Join LinkedIn and access Saraâs full profile. Itâs free! As a LinkedIn member, youâll join 300 million other professionals who are sharing connections, ideas, and opportunities.
Confidence votes 95.7K. A sand tornado is not truly a tornado. It is a phenomenon called a dust devil. Dust devils are whirlwinds that form when a layer of hot air forms just above the ground and rises in a relatively small, rotating column, picking up up dust or sand as it does so. Dust devils are rarely strong enough to cause damage, and are much weaker than tornadoes.
Whatâs the difference between a dust storm and a haboob â or are they the same thing? A dust storm is formed when strong turbulent winds pick up loose particles of dirt and sand, creating a wall of wind that pushes across dry terrain.