QCOSTARICA – While driving on the Intermaricana norte (Ruta 1) in the area of Naranjo, Abraham Alpizar pulled over and was able to recorded the whirlwind (“tornellino” in Spanish), even as it got closer to him.
In the video, it shows how the vortex raises dust, sticks, levaes and anything else in its path.
Locals say the whirlwinds are normal.
The national weather service says they are a natural weather phenomenon in the area.
Whirlinds are a very strong wind that moves in a spinning or swirling motion and that can damage buildings, trees, etc. The vortex of wind (a vertically oriented rotating column of air) forms due to instabilities and turbulence created by heating and flow (current) gradients. Whirlwinds occur all over the world and in any season.
Whirlwinds are subdivided into two main types, the great (or major) whirlwinds and the lesser (or minor) whirlwinds. The first category includes tornadoes, waterspouts, and landspouts. Some lesser whirlwinds may sometimes form in a similar manner to greater whirlwinds with related increase in intensity.