Latest news with #AdamRiding
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Plan to prevent repeat of Manchester 'dust devil'
"Appropriate measures" will be put in place to prevent a repeat of a dramatic "dust devil" that startled onlookers in Manchester over the weekend. The swirling 30ft (10m) column of dust and debris was pictured beating a path across Great Ancoats Street in the city centre on Saturday afternoon. Similar in appearance to a mini-tornado, the phenomenon was caused by contrasts in temperature causing air to rotate. Manchester City Council said the dust devil originated from the Central Retail Park building site, a vacant swathe of open land which is being redeveloped into a civil service office complex. The authority said: "The meteorological conditions required to create a so-called dust devil are uncommon in urban areas and so it's rare that a site is affected in the way we saw over the weekend. "However, dust control is a consideration for any development, and we'll ensure the developer takes appropriate measures to manage the site throughout the construction period." One eyewitness said he "froze" when she saw the column of dust spiralling towards him. Violinist Adam Riding, 30, said: "It was the most amazing thing. "I've never seen anything like that, and to witness it in the city on really not a very windy day. "It was like this wind tunnel between buildings had created this mini-vortex. It was bizarre." Met Office meteorologist Alan Goodman said dust devils were a "rare occurrence" in the UK. He said: "The ground was very, very warm. When you get this very warm air near the ground it will rise. "And then if you just get it right, the air starts to rush in from the sides and you get this sort of rotation motion." The Government Property Agency, which is redeveloping the Central Retail Park site, said the dust devil was the result of "exceptional meteorological conditions". It added: "In response to this, the contractors currently managing the site have taken the additional steps of bringing in a road sweeper and a towable water bowser to reduce the likelihood of dust being blown from this plot if unusual weather patterns continue." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram, and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer. What caused 'dust devil' in city centre?
BBC News
13-05-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Manchester 'dust devil': Plans in place to prevent repeat of phenomenon
"Appropriate measures" will be put in place to prevent a repeat of a dramatic "dust devil" that startled onlookers in Manchester over the swirling 30ft (10m) column of dust and debris was pictured beating a path across Great Ancoats Street in the city centre on Saturday afternoon. Similar in appearance to a mini-tornado, the phenomenon was caused by contrasts in temperature causing air to rotate. Manchester City Council said the dust devil originated from the Central Retail Park building site, a vacant swathe of open land which is being redeveloped into a civil service office complex. The authority said: "The meteorological conditions required to create a so-called dust devil are uncommon in urban areas and so it's rare that a site is affected in the way we saw over the weekend."However, dust control is a consideration for any development, and we'll ensure the developer takes appropriate measures to manage the site throughout the construction period." 'Most amazing thing' One eyewitness said he "froze" when she saw the column of dust spiralling towards him. Violinist Adam Riding, 30, said: "It was the most amazing thing. "I've never seen anything like that, and to witness it in the city on really not a very windy day. "It was like this wind tunnel between buildings had created this mini-vortex. It was bizarre."Met Office meteorologist Alan Goodman said dust devils were a "rare occurrence" in the said: "The ground was very, very warm. When you get this very warm air near the ground it will rise."And then if you just get it right, the air starts to rush in from the sides and you get this sort of rotation motion."The Government Property Agency, which is redeveloping the Central Retail Park site, said the dust devil was the result of "exceptional meteorological conditions".It added: "In response to this, the contractors currently managing the site have taken the additional steps of bringing in a road sweeper and a towable water bowser to reduce the likelihood of dust being blown from this plot if unusual weather patterns continue." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram, and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
Daily Mail
11-05-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Petrifying moment 'dust devil' tornado tears through UK city leaving stunned Brits in its wake
This is the terrifying moment a 'dust devil' tornado rips through a road packed with cars in a major UK city. Bystanders gawked at the 30-metre high swirling column of dust as it hurdled its way down Great Ancoats street in Manchester on Saturday. The towering cloud of dust briefly brought traffic to a standstill with its tornado-like appearance as it enveloped a large tree. 'What the...? What the hell? There is a tornado in the middle of Manchester... that's crazy,' the bewildered onlooker exclaimed. But not everyone was amazed by the swirling dust, as violinist, Adam Riding, 30, confessed he 'froze' when he saw the dust billowing upwards. It was this dark cloud and at first I thought it was an explosion but I didn't really hear any noise. I froze,' he told Manchester Evening News. 'I didn't know what to do and as it got higher and higher I got my phone out and started videoing it. It was probably over within a minute.' Elsewhere Peter David McHugh was briefly left in darkness when the dust devil cast a shadow over his building. 'I was inside and it was quite a sunny day and suddenly I was cast in darkness,' the web developer revealed. 'I looked out and there's there's this towering cloud of dust. I jumped up and thought "it's a tornado or something". 'It was really interesting. I've lived here eight years and I've never seen that. It was pretty wild.' Despite the amazement of those around, the 'tornado' quickly dissipated after a few seconds - as it was actually no windstorm but in fact a dust devil. A Met Office meteorologist later deciphered the twirling cloud was a dust bunny due to the sunny weather, elaborating that tornadoes require heavy rain or a thunder storm. 'A dust devil forms due to irregularities caused by temperature contrasts on different surfaces around which then causes rotation of the air and, when there's dust and debris, you can get these columns of air,' they said. Dust devils were also much smaller than tornadoes which can be around half-a-mile wide, he added. The Met Office described a dust devil, as 'an upward spiralling, dust filled vortex of air that may vary in height from a few feet to over 1,000'. 'They are usually several metres in diameter at the base, then narrowing for a short distance before expanding again.' They also explained that they mainly occur in desert and semi-arid areas, where the ground is dry and high surface temperatures produce strong updrafts, with its initial rotation being sparked by 'irregularities' on the surface. 'Unlike tornadoes, dust devils grow upwards from the ground, rather than down from clouds,' the forecaster elaborated. 'In the stronger dust devils, a cumulous cloud can be seen at the top of the rising column of warm air. They only last a few minutes because cool air is sucked into the base of the rising vortex, cooling the ground and cutting off its heat supply.'
The Sun
10-05-2025
- Climate
- The Sun
Terrifying moment ‘dust DEVIL' rips through UK city centre bringing traffic to a standstill
A UK city came to a standstill on Saturday afternoon as a 30 metre-high swirling column of dust tore through the centre. It could be seen travelling through a street of Manchester city centre, but it was not a tornado. 4 4 It is what is known as a " dust devil", or willy willy. Traffic was even brought to a halt before it enveloped a tree by the carriageway, as onlookers were confused by the sight of it. Violinist Adam Riding, 30, said: "I just saw this dust blowing upwards. "It was this dark cloud and at first I thought it was an explosion but I didn't really hear any noise." The dust devil was only seen briefly, and over after about a minute. "It was the most amazing thing, I've never seen anything like that," Adam added. "And to witness it in the city on really not a very windy day, it was like this wind tunnel between buildings had created this mini-vortex, It was bizarre." From the fifth floor of his apartment, website developer Peter David McHugh witnessed the dust devil from another angle. He noticed it after it became very dark in his flat: "I was inside and it was quite a sunny day and suddenly I was cast in darkness. "I looked out and there's this towering cloud of dust, I jumped up and thought it's a tornado or something. "I got my phone and managed to catch the end of it. "Then it just sort of dissipated." The Met Office confirmed to the Manchester Evening News it was not a tornado but a dust devil, after reviewing footage. A meteorolgist explained: "This phenomenon, most commonly known today as dust devils, is an upward spiralling, dust filled vortex of air that may vary in height from a few feet to over 1,000. "A dust devil forms due to irregularities caused by temperature contrasts on different surfaces around which then causes rotation of the air and, when there's dust and debris, you can get these columns of air." However, tornados require a thunder storm and often come with heavy rain, therefore making this sunny day and limited cloud unlikely to cause a tornado. As the Met said: "They mainly occur in desert and semi-arid areas, where the ground is dry and high surface temperatures produce strong updrafts." Dust devils, on the other hand, are much smaller at a few metres in diameter but tornadoes can reach around half-a-mile wide. 4 4
Daily Record
10-05-2025
- Climate
- Daily Record
'Dust devil' rips through UK city as rare weather event caught on camera
One man said he thought towering cloud of dust was a tornado as streets were suddenly cast in darkness. Traffic came to a standstill on Saturday afternoon as a 30 metre-high column of swirling dust ripped along a Manchester street. Local residents in the city's Great Ancoats Street said they 'froze' when they seen what they thought was a tornado. Violinist Adam Riding, 30, said: 'I was going to the gym on Great Ancoats Street where there is some land the council has flattened. I think that laid the foundation for what happened, with all the dust and sand that's there. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. 'I just saw this dust blowing upwards. It was this dark cloud and at first I thought it was an explosion but I didn't really hear any noise. I froze. I didn't know what to do and as it got higher and higher I got my phone out and started videoing it. It was probably over within a minute. It all happened really quickly. 'It was the most amazing thing. I've never seen anything like that. And to witness it in the city on really not a very windy day. It was like this wind tunnel between buildings had created this mini-vortex. It was bizarre.' Website developer Peter David McHugh was in his fifth floor apartment at Royal Mills, on the other side of the dust devil, when he noticed suddenly it got very dark in his flat. He said: 'I was inside and it was quite a sunny day and suddenly I was cast in darkness. I looked out and there's there's this towering cloud of dust. I jumped up and thought 'it's a tornado or something'. I got my phone and managed to catch the end of it. Then it just sort of dissipated. 'It was really interesting. I've lived here eight years and I've never seen that. It was pretty wild.' But after the Manchester Evening News shared the footage with the Met Office, a meteorologist quickly concluded it was not a tornado but a dust devil. He said: 'It's a sunny day and very little in the way of cloud. For a tornado you need a thunder storm and almost certainly heavy rain as well. A tornado is effectively a rotating column of air due to a severe thunderstorm. 'A dust devil forms due to irregularities caused by temperature contrasts on different surfaces around which then causes rotation of the air and, when there's dust and debris, you can get these columns of air.' Dust devils are also much smaller than tornadoes which can be half-a-mile wide, he said. The Met Office explains a dust devil, also known as a willy willy, on its website, stating: 'This phenomenon, most commonly known today as dust devils, is an upward spiralling, dust filled vortex of air that may vary in height from a few feet to over 1,000. 'They are usually several metres in diameter at the base, then narrowing for a short distance before expanding again. They mainly occur in desert and semi-arid areas, where the ground is dry and high surface temperatures produce strong updrafts. 'The initial rotation may be caused by irregularities in the surface. Unlike tornadoes, dust devils grow upwards from the ground, rather than down from clouds. In the stronger dust devils, a cumulous cloud can be seen at the top of the rising column of warm air. They only last a few minutes because cool air is sucked into the base of the rising vortex, cooling the ground and cutting off its heat supply.'
