Latest news with #GreatAncoatsStreet
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.
BBC News
12-05-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Manchester: What caused 'dust devil' that hit city centre?
An expert has explained why people saw what they thought was a "mini-tornado" passing through a city centre. A swirling 30ft (10m) column of dirt rose into the air around Great Ancoats Street in Manchester on Saturday. A meteorologist told the BBC the phenomenon was a rare "dust devil". Alan Goodman, from the Met Office, said there had been "ideal combination of conditions" for the weather event. Mr Goodman said: "It's a rare occurrence in the UK, never mind in the middle of a UK city." Mr Goodman said the dust devil had formed over an "open patch of ground with a lot of dust", following months of unusually dry weather. He added: "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."There was obviously enough dust from this patch of open ground and away it went."Mr Goodman reassured residents that, although it had the appearance of a mini-tornado, a dust devil was "nowhere near as dangerous or destructive". "But impressive nonetheless, and probably a first for Manchester," he added. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Rare 'dust devil' spotted in Manchester city centre
Manchester was left at a standstill yesterday after a 'dust devil' ripped through the city centre. The weather phenomenon, which to many looked like a tornado, ripped through Great Ancoats Street on Saturday afternoon, with a 30-metre-high swirling column of dust stopping traffic. This incident is known as a 'dust devil', which is caused by irregularities caused by temperature contrasts on different surfaces around which then causes rotation of the air. Wow! Dust devil in Manchester UK today...🌪️ 📹 @riding_adam — Volcaholic 🌋 (@volcaholic1) May 10, 2025 In a video shared on social media, an onlooker said: ''What the...? What the hell? There is a tornado in the middle of Manchester... that's crazy.' When combined with dust and debris, you can get a column of air, which is commonly much smaller than tornadoes. The Met Office describes a dust devil 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 cumulus 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."
