LENOX TOWNSHIP, Mich. – The unusual sight we saw Wednesday near the landfill in Lenox Township was a dust devil.
Video of the dust devil was captured early Wednesday afternoon by our helicopter, Sky 4. You can watch the footage above.
Dust devils form when intense sunshine heats the ground, causing pockets of hot air to rise rapidly. If that rising air begins to spin, it can create a visible rotating column that picks up dust, dirt, or other debris.
Conditions on Wednesday were favorable for dust devil development, with temperatures climbing into the lower 80s, very dry air, light winds, and abundant sunshine.
The smoldering landfill may have provided an additional localized heat source, creating an even stronger temperature difference between the ground and the surrounding air.
That extra heat likely helped enhance the upward motion, allowing the dust devil to become well-defined and extend high into the sky.
Unlike tornadoes, dust devils are not connected to thunderstorms and typically form on sunny, dry days when the ground heats unevenly. Most dust devils are relatively weak and harmless, but stronger ones can produce winds of 30 to 60 mph. That is strong enough to reduce visibility and toss light objects.