Also known as a 'univorticular whirlwind', 'univort', or 'dustdevil'. Over water these are known as 'waterspouts'. It's not a true tornado. It's a rising column of air created by a layer of rotating hot air on the surface, while a tornado is a bit more complex, requiring both a significant updraft and downdraft, and rotating winds. Or at least that's the skinny.

Like it. Thanks spidey! I got caught in one of these when I was hiking in Canyonlands in Utah. Whipped the snot out of everything but ne'er did me feet leave mother earth.

aww, it's so cute. those northerners should head down to northern texas/oklahoma during tornado season and get a real taste of tornados