Editing Tornado (section)

===Similar circulations===

====Gustnado====
{{Main|Gustnado}}

A ''gustnado'', or ''gust front tornado'', is a small, vertical swirl associated with a [[Outflow boundary|gust front]] or [[downburst]]. Because they are not connected with a cloud base, there is some debate as to whether or not gustnadoes are tornadoes. They are formed when fast-moving cold, dry outflow air from a [[thunderstorm]] is blown through a mass of stationary, warm, moist air near the outflow boundary, resulting in a "rolling" effect (often exemplified through a [[roll cloud]]). If low level [[wind shear]] is strong enough, the rotation can be turned vertically or diagonally and make contact with the ground. The result is a gustnado.<ref name="SPC FAQ"/><ref name="gustnado AMS">{{cite web|url=http://glossary.ametsoc.org/wiki/Gustnado|title=Gustnado|access-date=2006-09-20|publisher=American Meteorological Society|work=Glossary of Meteorology|date=June 2000|archive-date=2007-09-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930181123/http://amsglossary.allenpress.com/glossary/search?p=1&query=gustnado|url-status=live}}</ref> They usually cause small areas of heavier rotational wind damage among areas of straight-line wind damage.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NOAA's National Weather Service - Glossary |url=https://forecast.weather.gov/glossary.php?word=gustnado |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=forecast.weather.gov}}</ref>

====Dust devil====
{{Main|Dust devil}}

[[File:Dust devil.jpg|right|thumb|A dust devil in [[Arizona]]]]

A ''dust devil'' (also known as a whirlwind) resembles a tornado in that it is a vertical swirling column of air. However, they form under clear skies and are no stronger than the weakest tornadoes. They form when a strong convective updraft is formed near the ground on a hot day. If there is enough low-level wind shear, the column of hot, rising air can develop a small cyclonic motion that can be seen near the ground. They are not considered tornadoes because they form during fair weather and are not associated with any clouds. However, they can, on occasion, result in major damage.<ref name="Handy Weather Answer Book">{{cite book|first=Walter A.|last=Lyons|title=The Handy Weather Answer Book|edition=2nd|year=1997|publisher=Visible Ink press|location=[[Detroit|Detroit, Michigan]]|isbn=0-7876-1034-8|pages=[https://archive.org/details/handyweatheransw00lyon/page/175 175–200]|chapter=Tornadoes|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/handyweatheransw00lyon/page/175}}</ref><ref name="dust devil injury">{{cite web|url=http://www.srh.noaa.gov/ssd/techmemo/sr207.htm|title=Severe Weather Climatology for New Mexico|access-date=2006-09-29|first1=Charles H.|last1=Jones|first2=Charlie A.|last2=Liles|year=1999|archive-date=2018-10-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181021111504/http://www.srh.noaa.gov/ssd/techmemo/sr207.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Fire whirls====
{{Main|Fire whirl}}

Small-scale, tornado-like circulations can occur near any intense surface heat source. Those that occur near intense [[wildfire]]s are called ''fire whirls''. They are not considered tornadoes, except in the rare case where they connect to a [[pyrocumulus]] or other cumuliform cloud above. Fire whirls usually are not as strong as tornadoes associated with thunderstorms. They can, however, produce significant damage.<ref name="significant tornadoes"/>

====Steam devils====
{{Main|Steam devil}}

A ''steam devil'' is a [[rotating]] [[updraft]] between {{convert|50|and|200|m|ft|adj=mid|wide}} that involves steam or smoke. These formations do not involve high wind speeds, only completing a few rotations per minute. Steam devils are very rare. They most often form from smoke issuing from a power plant's smokestack. [[Hot springs]] and deserts may also be suitable locations for a tighter, faster-rotating steam devil to form. The phenomenon can occur over water, when cold arctic air passes over relatively warm water.<ref name="Handy Weather Answer Book"/>

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