Chengdu residents witnessed a meteorological marvel on February 10, 2026, when a towering dust devil vortex briefly disrupted a popular urban park gathering. The whirlwind, reaching several meters in height, swept through picnic areas before dissipating harmlessly within minutes.
Local meteorologists confirmed the phenomenon as a rare urban dust devil – a vertical column of swirling air formed through rapid ground heating. While common in arid regions, such occurrences remain unusual in Chengdu's temperate climate zone.
"It appeared like a mini-tornado, lifting leaves and paper plates straight up," described witness Zhang Wei, who captured smartphone footage of the event. "The park went quiet for a moment, then everyone started discussing what we'd seen."
Authorities confirmed no injuries or significant property damage resulted from the brief weather event. Climate researchers note such occurrences could become more frequent in urban heat islands, though emphasize this single incident doesn't establish a trend.
