Dust Devil

A dust devil is a strong, well-formed, and relatively long-lived whirlwind. The primary vertical motion is upward. Dust devils are usually harmless, but can on rare occasions grow large enough to pose a threat to both people and property.

They are comparable to tornadoes in that both are a weather phenomenon involving a vertically oriented rotating column of wind. Most tornadoes are associated with a larger parent circulation, the mesocyclone on the back of a supercell thunderstorm. Dust devils form as a swirling updraft under sunny conditions during fair weather, rarely coming close to the intensity of a tornado.

Dust Devil in The House of Daniel
Dust devils were creatures that generated tremendous dust through their dancing. They grew particularly bad in the southwest United States after the Big Bubble burst, usually taking up residence in depressed farming towns such as Enid, Oklahoma.

They varied in height, with smaller ones approximating a one-story building, and larger ones reaching the height of a three-story building. Some were strong enough to throw vehicles if they were inclined.