New Mexico Fire Devils

I fly in the Reno area and I've seen big dust devils
that carry dirt into the air (starting at 4300' MSL,
ground level) up to 12,000' MSL.

At the ground the 'thermal' is rotating but it does
not go up too far (maybe 2000' to 3000' AGL for a real
strong one) before there is no perceptable rotation
of the dirt in the air.

At the average altitudes we fly gliders, particularly
just below clouds (at least 500' below, right?), there
is no special reason to be turning right as opposed
to left (or vice versa) other than your initial best
guess for centering purposes.

JLH
Ventus C