Officers captured footage of the rotating cloud of dust and debris as it moved along a road and then brushed alongside their vehicle.
“We’d pulled over and it came right towards us,” Sergeant Clint Brennan said.
“It shook the car as well. It had quite a lot of power to it.
“It was quite impressive.”
Sgt Brennan and other officers from Cue were in the township to assist local police when they spotted the willy-willy, about 2pm on Richardson Street.
According to the Bureau of Meteorology spokesman Neil Bennett, the phenomenon – also known as a dancing devil, dust devil or cockeye bob – is a rotating column of air caused by high temperatures.
He said they were a worldwide phenomenon – even off-world, with sightings on Mars.
Mr Bennett said they were particularly common in desert areas.
Gavin Box – Geraldton Guardian on November 2, 2016, 5:11 pm
Photo Cue Police
