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Old 21st July 2005 | 01:17
  #35 (permalink)  
RobboRider
 
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 267
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From: Queensland Australia
Unctious

merely through transitting through a strong willy willy (aka thermal).
I think you have got your definitions a bit awry. A willy willy (AKA Dust Devil) is not just a "thermal".
A big Willy willy is basically a small tornado without necesarrily having the storm clouds etc over the top of it.

The horizontal components of the wind can be 50 plus knots over a very short distance with sudden wind shear in the opposite direction of equal speed. Crossing through one is not just catching a thermal it's more akin to passing through a horizontal micro-burst.

I have seen them pick up bits of corrugated iron, branches and plenty of dirt/dust and take them up several hundred feet.
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