Another tornado with an F4 intensity in the Jarra forest of southwestern Australia also levelled trees along a path of about 30 kilometres. Dust devils are rotating columns of air that can occur in hot regions around the world. Dust devils can occur as a result of the movement created by large trucks passing over a hotter surface such as a road. They may also develop in the vicinity of local thunderstorms. Even though they are not regarded as highly dangerous, they can become hazardous to light aircraft and other light vehicles.
Severe cases can cause damage to houses and trees.
Their appearance is determined by the type of dust and light debri picked up. The red brown soil in the Australian deserts give the dust devils there a red brown colouring. Dust devils do not last long but other dust devils may develop by the same source causing the original ones to develop. They are typically up to several metres wide at the base and can lift dust and debri up to a few hundred metres in the air. Their movement is determined using similar techniques to those discussed for the tornado.