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No tornado, but a powerful “dust devil” shook Manchester centre
On a warm afternoon in July, Manchester city centre witnessed a spectacular yet harmless weather phenomenon—a towering dust devil. Captured in multiple clips across social media, this spiralling vortex of dust and debris momentarily stunned residents and passersby, bringing city life to a sudden pause.
What is a dust devil
A dust devil is a small, short-lived whirlwind that forms under sunny, dry, and calm conditions. Unlike tornadoes, which stem from powerful thunderstorms, dust devils arise from intense surface heating. As warm air rises, it begins spinning in a vertical column, picking up dust and debris, and often reaching tens of metres in height. While dramatic, these whirlwinds typically cause no real damage.
What happened in Manchester
• Height & impact: Eyewitnesses described the vortex reaching about 30 m high, wide enough to disturb umbrellas, litter, and loose street signs.
• Duration: The whirlwind lasted under two minutes—long enough to garner viral attention but too brief to pose any real threat.
• Public reaction: Locals described the sensation as being caught in a “dust storm,” marvelling at the visual spectacle yet relieved there were no injuries reported.
Why now
Manchester has experienced unusually dry and settled weather this July. Clear skies and strong sun heated air pockets near the ground, setting ideal conditions for dust devils. Recent weather summaries from local outlets indicate a series of similar events across northern England during dry spells
In summary
Manchester’s recent weather “tourist attraction” wasn’t a tornado. It was a classic dust devil: a swirling pillar of dust that dazzled but didn’t destroy. These rare urban whirlwinds serve as fascinating reminders of the power of micro-scale atmospheric processes in our everyday environment.
Attached is a news article regarding the dust devil that was in Manchester
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg9733gn11o.amp
Article written and configured by Christopher Stanley
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