On the way back to work from lunch at home, I saw something interesting in the construction site across the road from the office.
At first it seemed like one of those sun beams you see in the distance on a hazy day. Except I was driving right at it, so unless it was one of those signs from above, that could’t be it.
As I drew closer, I could see dirt swirling around inside what looked like a 100 foot tall, almost perfectly straight straw. Then when I was right next to it, basically disappeared.
This is the first time since we moved to the “West” that I’ve seen a genuine dest devil in person.
Pretty cool.
Mine is weaker, but when I was in Kuwait there was a vicious sandstorm one day, but prior to that I saw several miniature little dust (sand?) devils dancing all over the place. It was bizaaah. They looked like 4-foot tall tasmanian devils, a la the WB cartoon.
Your first pic linked to “straw” comes from Burning Man, I’m sure (the tents, the playa, and the “bman” in the URL). When I was there, we would see those things all day long. I’ve got one pic with several going at the same time. Very odd phenomenon.