Whirlwind

Whirlwind is a general term for a meteorological phenomenon characterized by a rapidly rotating column of air. In common usage it covers small, short‑lived vortices as well as larger, more intense air rotations that extend from the ground to the base of a cloud. Whirlwinds can form in a variety of environments and may be visible through enshrouding dust, debris, or condensation.

Several forms are frequent: dust devils, which arise on hot, dry surfaces when strong convection creates a localized vortex; they are typically a few meters to tens of meters tall with modest winds and brief lifespans. Tornadoes are violent whirlwinds with a strong, rotating column of air in contact with a cumulonimbus cloud and the ground. Waterspouts are whirlwinds over water, sometimes moving ashore; landspouts are tornado‑like vortices that form on land, usually without a mature supercell thunderstorm.

Fire whirls occur when a wildfire's intense heat and wind generate a rotating updraft, producing a spinning column that can carry embers and enhance fire spread. In non‑technical usage, “whirlwind” may also describe rapid, tumultuous events or chaotic weather, but meteorologists prefer more precise terms such as vortex, eddy, or tornado depending on scale and mechanism.

Overall, whirlwinds describe rotating air phenomena ranging from harmless dust vortices to dangerous tornadoes, with distinct formation processes and atmospheric conditions.