Easter Sunday was a beautiful day to be outside in the Capital Region. Tim and Liz Nichols were out and about in North Granville when they caught a weather phenomena called a ‘dust devil’ on video.
According to the National Weather Service, a dust devil is a type of whirlwind less powerful than a tornado. It forms when forms when warm air rises from the ground and forms a vortex. It continues to rise and increase in speed. They usually only last for a few seconds.
As Steve Caporrizo explains in his Facebook post, dust devils can reach speeds of 40-50mph. In places like Arizona, they are known to kick up dust and debris and have at times caused damage to homes and small structures. This one seemed pleasant enough though.
photo: Steve Caporizzo, Facebook Video