Huge columns of dust, grass and hay resembling small tornadoes have been spotted whirling across parts of England in the record summer heat.

Known as a “dust devil” – sometimes referred to as a “willy willy” – the phenomenon only usually happens in the extreme heat of desert climates.

But climate change means the UK will see dust devils much more often during heatwaves, weather experts say.

“Things normally seen in places such as the Kalahari or Serengeti could happen in your backyard – without the lions or zebras,” said Jim Dale, founder of British Weather Services.

What are dust devils and where were they spotted?

Dust devils have been spotted in Kent, Suffolk, Northamptonshire and London’s Greenwich Park in recent days.

One vortex was caught on camera sweeping close by to sunbathers and picnickers in the busy south London park on Sunday.

Another whirlwind whipped tables and chairs up in the air at a sport’s club in Dartford, Kent. And footage of a dust devil spiraling across a field in rural Kent was captured by an air ambulance crew.

Though they resemble mini-tornadoes, they are not nearly so powerful. Unlike tornadoes, which grow downward from the clouds, dust devils happen from the ground up.

“The extreme heat intensity on the ground’s surface can create a rotating column of air that picks up dust, grass, hay or debris on the ground,” said Dale, co-author of .

“The phenomenon typically last only a few minutes because cool air from above tries to compensate for the low-pressure cell that has been created, and in the end always wins out.”

Are dust devils dangerous?

Although not as powerful as a tornado, dust devils have been known to cause property damage in the US, where they have been far more common than in the UK.

One incident saw three children in a bouncy castle carried over 10 feet in El Paso, Texas, according to the Met Office.

“They can certainly lift up light objects, but for the most part they’re not overly dangerous and not comparable to a tornado,” said Dale.

“Usually, you can easily move away in order to avoid them, but if you are caught out then cover your eyes, ears and mouth and crouch down into a ball,” the weather expert added.

Will we see more of them with climate change?

Weather experts have warned that more frequent heatwaves in the years ahead mean dust devils could become common during the British summer.

“It’s something we usually see in nature documentaries within arid climates, so it’s striking to see it here, though perhaps not so surprising given the summer to date,” said Dale.

“I think we can expect a greater number of dust devils as we experience more heatwaves. The backdrop to it all is obviously fossil-fuelled climate change.”

The Met Office is considering issuing rare amber or red extreme heat warnings for parts of the country that are set to see temperatures of 36°C or higher later this week.

Parts of the country are braced for their sixth heatwave of the summer. Half of England and all of Wales have been plunged into drought and more regions could be declared when officials meet at the National Drought Group on Monday.