Texas Residents Spot Enormous Dust Devil

Tornadoes are a big deal here in Texas. But why do they get all the love? Dust Devils are cool too! And the one in the video at the bottom of this article is no tiny swirl of dirt; this thing is massive. Please scroll down to check it out. You have to see this thing in motion to truly experience how awe-inspiring it is.

Huge Dust Devil Twists Through Texas Landscape

What exactly causes this phenomenon? A dust devil, also called a dirt devil in some areas, is a powerful but short-lived whirlwind. These spinning gusts can be as small as 18 inches wide and a few yards tall, or as big as 30 feet wide and over half a mile high. They mostly spin upward, and while they're generally harmless, they can sometimes grow large enough to pose a danger to people and property.

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The footage was captured in Mentone, Texas, an unincorporated town with a population of just 22, just west of Midland/Odessa. Mentone used to hold the title of the least-populated unincorporated county seat in the U.S. However, in the 2010 census, Gann Valley, South Dakota, snatched that honor with a whopping 14 people. In 1967, Mentone was recognized as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark for being the "Smallest County Seat in Texas."  

Check out the video below: