Dust Devil or Tornado? Swirling Column in Thoothukudi Stuns Residents

CHENNAI: Even as parts of Tamil Nadu received intense evening thunderstorms on Sunday, a video showing a towering column of swirling dust in Thoothukudi went viral on social media, with many weather enthusiasts describing it as a "tornado-like" phenomenon. Meteorologists, however, said the event was not a tornado but was likely caused by a strong updraft associated with a thunderstorm. Officials said Thoothukudi witnessed heavy rain and thunderstorm activity triggered by a cyclonic circulation and strong local heating. The resulting cumulonimbus cloud, which can extend from 3km above the ground to about 18km in height, generated a powerful upward current of air. “When the thundercloud developed, a strong updraft lifted loose soil and dust from the ground, creating the swirling column seen in the video. It was not a tornado. Tornadoes are far more intense, move rapidly and can cause significant structural damage. They require a much stronger atmospheric setup than what existed over Thoothukudi,” said VR Durai, director, Area Cyclone Warning Centre, India Meteorological Department (IMD). The dramatic visuals left residents astonished, with voices in the background of several videos reacting in surprise as the swirling column rose into the sky. Weather blogger Pradeep John, who shared the footage online, described it as a rare event. He said similar phenomena were reported near Nazareth in Thoothukudi district in Oct 2016, in Sankarankoil in 2015, on the outskirts of Chennai in 2013 and over the sands of Marina Beach in Oct 2023.