Single Publication

ASH DEVIL-TWISTERS FOUND IN MCBRIDE BURNED AREA BY BAER SPECIALISTS

On April 26, 2022, during a field assessment of the McBride burned area by Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) specialists Jalene Weatherholt, Forest Service Soil Scientist, and Rhonda Stewart, Forest Service Wildlife Biologist and Lincoln NF BAER Coordinator, they observed some ash devil-twisters in the burn scar.  These twisters can occur especially during high winds or windy conditions.  Ash devil-twisters form in burn scars during high wind events or weather fronts coming through the area.  They form very much in the same way as dust devils, but from the ash.  They can be a hazard to people, as they carry particles of dust and ash that can be harmful to the lungs if inhaled.  They can also contribute to soil erosion in burn scars. 

Jalene and Rhonda captured photos and videos of the ash devil-twisters forming on the McBride burn scar while getting soil samples in the burned area on the southern end of Gavilan Ridge when the wind was picking up later in the afternoon.  The video (posted on the McBride Post-Fire BAER InciWeb page under the videos tab) was caught during the middle of the formation and moved along with the BAER team, and the crew observed its eventual dissipation.  The crew later captured photo of a tall ash devil twister further down the ridge (about ¾ mile away), in the burn scar.  If you zoom in on the photo, you can see the top terminus against the clouds. 

Because these weather devil twisters are not common, and even less commonly caught on camera, the McBride BAER assessment specialists posted them here on InciWeb and will also share their images and videos with our local NOAA national weather service partners!

ASH DEVIL-TWISTER PHOTO: