Whirlwind Moderate

a more or less vertical column of air whirling around itself as it moves over the surface of the Earth

"The pilot had to steer sharply away from the sudden whirlwind tearing across the flat plains."

A violent windstorm of limited extent, as the tornado, characterized by an inward spiral motion of the air with an upward current in the center; a vortex of air. It usually has a rapid progressive motion.

"The sudden whirlwind tore through the narrow valley, lifting dust and debris into its spiraling core before vanishing just as quickly as it had arrived."