ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Steam devil

A steam devil is something that looks like a tiny tornado made out of steam. Steam is kind of like a cloud you can see that comes from hot water. Sometimes when there is hot water and cool air, the hot water makes the air around it go up really fast. This makes it spin around, kind of like when you spin around in circles and feel dizzy.

When this happens over a body of water, the steam devil can form. It's called a devil because it looks like a tiny, twisting monster, but it’s not really scary, just a natural phenomenon. It can be interesting to watch, but it's important to stay a safe distance away because the steam can be hot and can burn you. So, always be careful and stay back when you see a steam devil.
Related topics others have asked about: