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June 30, 2005

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Here's a picture of a dust devil terrorizing a small neighborhood. As these things can look quite menacing, they are usually just annoying as they kick up dust everywhere. But occasionally, like a small tornado, they can become quite strong and pick up reasonably large objects. Much like the one that picked up a car port last year, while my car was still under it. The 300 pound structure was tore from its anchors, lifted off the ground, carried about 50 foot into the air and dropped back down into a neighbor's driveway, some 20-30 yards away. Now providing them with a nice car port. 
I would have to say though, that the car port was not the most highly constructed piece of architecture as it was built with tarp and steel poles. Actually making it quite the well designed wind sail.

Dust devils like these actually happen all over the country. Although they are usually not as noticeable without the loose dust and debris to pick up. I recall one several years ago that blew through our landing area at the Skydive Orange drop zone, in Virginia, and almost took out about a half dozen skydivers as they were landing. Nobody was injured, but it did leave a bunch of people doubting their canopy flying skills. One individual's canopy jerked and he was pulled about ten feet back up into the air before dropping and tumbling back down to the ground.

Now we wonder why they are called a dust "DEVIL"?

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