These past few weeks have made me feel that I could be back in South Africa
By Lyndsay Rowe
These past few weeks have made me feel that I could be back in SA – with the excessive heat, no rain, brown, scorched lawns, parched flower beds gasping for water, and tropical nights with humidity and temperatures certainly not conducive to a good night’s sleep!
Still, it has been great to have a proper summer – and the beach has been a blessing!
There’s one other ‘visitor’ who has made an appearance due to the hot, dry conditions – and that is the sightings of “dust devils”.
Rarely seen in the UK before, these flurries of dust, debris and wind have started to appear over the country, and big columns of dust, grass and hay resembling small tornadoes have been spotted whirling across parts of England in the record summer heat– they’ve even been spotted in London, I read!
Dust devils – (or a “Willy willy” in Australia or a “sí gaoithe” or “fairy wind” in Ireland) – are fascinating, natural phenomena that are characterised by swirling columns of air filled with dust and debris.
The name ‘dust devil’ comes from their appearance and behaviour. These whirlwinds typically form on hot, sunny days when the ground heats up rapidly, causing pockets of warm air to rise. They can appear suddenly and seem to have a life of their own, twisting, turning and “dancing” across the fields.
The term ‘devil’ likely comes from the chaotic and sometimes unpredictable nature of these twisters as they move across the landscape, and the ‘dust’ part of the name is quite straightforward—these whirlwinds pick up loose soil and dust, making them visible against the landscape.
Overall, the name effectively captures the essence of these swirling dust fans – they can be both beautiful and a little eerie, especially as they seem to conjure up images of mischievous spirits in the desert.
They are usually harmless and only on rare occasions are they strong enough to endanger people and/or property. The worst you’ll probably get is an eyeful of sand if you end up walking through one!
Interestingly enough – they also occur on Mars, though I am not au fait with the name the Martians have given them!
Take care and stay safe
LR
