Dust Devils on a Dry Lakebed
November 22, 2022
Photographer: Dale Chadwick
Summary Author: Dale Chadwick
The photo above shows dust devils on a dry lakebed southwest of Winnemucca, Nevada, as observed in the early afternoon of July 4, 2022. I was about 2 to 3 miles (3-5 km) away from when I noticed dust and sand swirling in the air. The largest of these devils appears to be over 100 feet (30 m) high and perhaps 30 feet (9 m) in width. I was surprised at how long they persisted -- visible for at least 10 minutes.
Dust devils occur when the surface becomes sufficiently heated to form a weak updraft in the lower atmosphere, just above the ground. Once formed, the little rotating column of air may twist counterclockwise or clockwise and is typically barely strong enough to lift grains of sand.
Photo details: Two views taken with a 300MM zoom lens.
Winnemucca, Nevada Coordinates:
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