'Tornado' filmed whipping through South Australia

A "tornado" made entirely of dust has been filmed whipping through a parched paddock in South Australia.

Baker James Soar, 18, was driving through Blakeview when he saw the phenomenon commonly known as a "dust devil".

He said it's a sight that's becoming all too familiar as Australia battles the worst drought in over 100 years.

"It's a common thing when ground is dry and there's a bit of wind. I've seen many travelling through regional South Australia," he told 9news.com.au.

While they look dramatic, he said he believes dust devils only pose risks for people with respiratory issues.

"They're usually harmless, unless you have asthma or something, but otherwise they can be quite cool to look at," Mr Soar said.

"Because we live in the suburbs it's not to bad. But they can be a nightmare for people in farms when it comes to the washing."

The Bureau of Meteorology said that dust devils while similar in shape to a tornado has much less strength.

They form due to intense heating at the surface causing a rapid upward movement of parcel of air.

This displacement of the surface air causes an inward movement of surrounding air, creating the common spiral shape of the dust devil.