Willy-willy weather

 

Willy-willy weather is here!

For those not familiar with the Australian vernacular, a willy-willy is a dust devil or small whirlwind. The word itself is an adoption from the Yindjibarndi/ Wemba-Wemba language/s. I've used it ever since I read the Silver Brumby books as a child and like most common words, my understanding of its history and original usage is sadly lacking.

A willy-willy can be small, they're often seen in urban environments where two opposing breezes meet on a street corner. They can also be quite large though I've never encountered the term being used for a Category Anything Tornado.  In Australia they can be responsible for a significant amount of sediment transport and do contribute to topsoil erosion. Areas with limited vegetation coverage, such as this recently bulldozed track, can be especially vulnerable. Sand dunes, with their well sorted and graded particles are also quite susceptible to erosion by willy-willy. The seasonable nature of these natural features should be considered when planning any earth moving activities such as rehabilitation.