A photo of what initially was believed to be a tornado was shared on social media this morning.

This photo was taken close to Duvha Power Station.

It is unclear whether this was a tornado or a ‘dust devil’.

According to Fox Weather, there is a significant difference between the two.

“Tornadoes are born from supercell thunderstorms containing descending currents of relatively cold, dense air, known as downdrafts. These downdrafts help a developing tornado maintain its rotation while also pushing it downward toward lower altitudes,” they posted on their website.

“On the other hand, dust devils typically form in fair weather on sunny and hot days with light winds. Intense heating along the ground causes a vast difference in temperature within a few hundred feet. The heated air, now quite buoyant, will shoot upward, with surface winds providing some spin,” Scott Sistek wrote on the Fox Weather website.

With all the strange weather patterns Emalahleni experienced lately, anything seems possible.

If you come across an interesting weather phenomenon, please email us: info@witbanknews.co.za