IndiaToday.in | Edited by Mohak Gupta
New Delhi, September 30, 2017 | UPDATED 13:01 IST
A video captured by a man in California will send chills down your spine. The video shows a terrifying weather phenomenon known as gustnado which can reach wind speeds between 95 to 130 kmph.
Screenshots: The Weather Network/@weathernetworkA California man caught a massive cloud of dust on camera.
Brent Rose who was on his way to meet some friends was driving in the evening when he noticed winds were picking up.
"There was a lot of dust in the air. When I turned around to head in a different direction, this crazy whiteout dust storm just came out of nowhere," he told The Weather Network.
"Suddenly everything was gone."
The frightening weather phenomenon called gustnado was caught on camera.
Brent failed to see either side of the road. In addition to the strong winds, rain helped to turn the dust into mud, according to Rose.
The entire event lasted about 20 minutes.
A 'gustnado' nearly drove one man off the road as he travelled down a California highway, causing whiteout conditions and damaging his van. pic.twitter.com/lqIadKsIWJ
- The Weather Network (@weathernetwork) September 29, 2017
GUSTNADO
A gustnado is a short-lived, ground-based swirling wind that can form on the leading edge of a severe thunderstorm.
The name comes from "gust front of a tornado".
The weather phenomenon almost looks like a tornado. It is not considered to be one. A gustnado develops in a different way than a classic tornado does.
Very strong thunderstorms produce a powerful downward push of air called a downdraft. The downdraft winds then spread outward upon hitting the ground, causing a strong rush of wind at the surface.
Gustnado may be accompanied by rain, but mostly just tosses dust and small debris into the air.
Gustnadoes can sometimes reach wind speeds between 95 to 130 kmph, resulting in significant damages.