A dust devil is a small-scale vortex (1–100 m in diameter) generated by uneven ground heating on sunny, light-wind days. Hot air rises at a specific point and begins rotating, forming a visible column from the dust it carries.
Difference from tornadoes
Unlike tornadoes, dust devils form from the ground up (not descending from a cloud) and are not associated with storms. They are generally weak (30–60 km/h) and short-lived (seconds to a few minutes), though exceptional ones can reach 300 m in height and 100 km/h winds. They are common in arid areas, ploughed fields, and asphalted car parks.