Unlike tornadoes, dust devils are typically small and pose little threat to cause damage. Author: Brad Edwards, Taylor Kanost Published: 9:43 PM CDT July 27, 2021 Updated: 9:43 PM CDT July 27, 2021
DES MOINES, Iowa While not as intense or large as tornadoes, dust devils can be quite the sight to behold.
Dust devils are most likely to develop when skies are clear and winds are light.
In these conditions, ground temperatures can become much warmer than the air just above the surface. That creates an unstable environment which causes the surface air to rise.
When this happens in a localized area, low pressure develops at the surface below the rising air. Air at the ground rushes horizontally toward the low pressure and the circulation increases.