Overview

• The dust devil, a swirling column of air filled with debris, swept along Great Ancoats Street on May 10, briefly stopping traffic and alarming bystanders.
• Eyewitnesses initially mistook the phenomenon for a tornado or explosion due to its towering appearance and sudden formation.
• The Met Office analyzed footage and confirmed it was a dust devil, not a tornado, explaining its formation from surface temperature contrasts in the area.
• Dust devils are rare in urban environments like Manchester, as they typically occur in arid or semi-arid regions with dry ground and strong updrafts.
• The event lasted only a few minutes, leaving residents fascinated by the unusual sight in a major UK city.