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Watch: Mini tornado hits UAE town as thunder, hailstorm follow

Sand tornadoes are usually harmless and not uncommon in the UAE

Published: Tue 29 Aug 2023, 4:49 PM

Updated: Wed 30 Aug 2023, 10:36 AM

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A mini tornado — with a diametre of around 12-15 metres — hit Siji town in Fujairah on Tuesday.

According to storm_ae that posted the video on Instagram, the incident happened around 2pm on August 29.

“It lasted for some 15 minutes, accompanied by thunder and hailstorm,” the spokesperson told Khaleej Times.

In the video shared, a massive grey formation is seen rising into the air, as it proceeds to envelop the sky.

Watch the video here:

A tornado is a rotating column of air that extends from a thunderstorm to the ground. According to meteorologists, “tornadoes form when warm, humid air collides with cold, dry air. They happen mostly in the afternoon, when the sun has heated the ground and the atmosphere enough to produce thunderstorms.”

Sand tornadoes, also known as 'dust devils', are usually harmless and not uncommon in the UAE.

Back in September last year, a mini tornado was spotted in Al Ain followed by heavy rain and strong winds. Also last year, in September, a mini-tornado occurred in Sharjah. The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) shared a video showing a whirlwind kicking up dust into a funnel-shaped formation in the Madam area.

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