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To start of, how they form is different. Tornadoes, by definition, extend from the dloud base od a thunderstorm all the way to the ground, and in most cases thei formation starts at least several thousand feet up in the storm.
Dust devils form from the ground up in the absence of thunderstorms as a result of the sun heating the ground.
Dust devils are smaller and much weaker than tornadoes. A typical dust devil is a few yards wide and has winds of less than 40 mph. In very rare instances a dust devil may produce winds over 70 mph and cause minor damage equivalent to an EF0 tornado, the weakest rating on the Ehanced Fujita scale. In rare instances a dust devils may reach 100 yards wide.
By contrast, tornadoes have a typical width of a few dozen yards and usually produce winds between 60 and 110 mph, which can cause minor to moderately severe damage. However, in the worst cases a tornado may be well over a mile wide and produce winds in excess of 300 mph, causing total devastation.
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Are whirlwinds and tornadoes the same thing?
Not entirely. A tornado is a whirlwind, but not all whirlwinds are tornadoes. Most whirlwinds, such as dust devils, are relatively harmless.
Is a tornado the same as a whirlwind?
Not really. A tornado is a kind of whirlwind, but most whirlwinds are not tornadoes. Other types of whirlwind include dust devils, steam devils, and firewhirls.
Can dust devils kill you?
On very rare occasions dust devils can kill.
Can tornadoes pick stuff up?
Yes. Even very weak tornadoes will lift dust and twigs. Stronger tornadoes can lift roofs, garages, barns, and some vehicles. The most violent tornadoes will lift large trucks, train cars, and even well built houses.
What did tornadoes sound like before trains were invented?
They sounded they same. We just didn't have something to compare it with.
What makes dust devils different than tornadoes?
Dust devils form in sunny weather while tornadoes require thunderstorms to form. Dust devils are much weaker and generally smaller than tornadoes as well.
Which planets have red dust tornadoes?
True tornadoes only form on earth, as far as scientists know. These may become red if they encounter red dust. The planet Mars, had red dust devils. Dust devils resemble tornadoes but they are not actually tornadoes.
What is similar to tornadoes?
Waterspouts and MAYBE dust devils
How many tornadoes have there been in Africa?
yes tornadoes and dust devils are common in Africa
Can a dust devil develop into a tornado?
No. Dust devils are whirlwinds that form from low-level convection in the absence of a thunderstorm. Tornadoes form from thunderstorms. However, on rare occasions dust devils can cause minor damage with winds comparable to those of an EF0 tornado. Landspout tornadoes can sometimes look rather like dust devils.
Does the Death Valley have tornadoes?
Yes. Death valley can get tornadoes, but they are very rare. Dust devils are common though.
Why are tornadoes called dust devils?
They aren't. Tornadoes and dust devils are two different things. A tornado is a violent vortex of wind that develops during a severe thunderstorm. A dust devil is a much weaker whirlwind that often forms under clear skies.
Is it possible for a tornado to come with the sun out?
Tornadoes can only form during thunderstorms, though sometimes the sun may peak through from the side to illuminate a tornado. Other than that, no. Sometimes dust devils will develop on sunny days. Dust devils are whirlwinds that look rather like tornadoes, but they are not. Dust devils are usually harmless.
Are there really fire tornadoes?
Sort of. There are firewhirls, vortices of smoke of fire that resemble tornadoes. However, they technically are not tornadoes and have more in common with dust devils.
Can dust devils be more deadly than a tornado?
Only by a technicality. Most tornadoes do not actually kill anyone; only about 2% of tornadoes are killers. Only a handful of people have been killed by dust devils, but that still means there have been a few dust devils with a death toll of 1, while there have been many tornadoes with death tolls of zero. Aside from that, though, tornadoes are deadlier. Dust devils are far more common than tornadoes, but only a handful of people have been killed by them, and injuries generally only occur once every few years. By contrast tornadoes kill dozens of people and injure hundreds in a normal year.
Can a dirt tornado kill you?
If you mean a dust devil, then technically yes. Though they aren't really tornadoes, dust devils have killed people. However, fatalities from dust devils are extremely rare, only a handful have ever been recorded. Most of the time dust devils are harmless.
Where should you go if there is a dust devil tornado?
Just watch and enjoy. Dust devils are not tornadoes. They are much weaker and are usually harmless.
