This is the exhilarating moment a dust devil tornado whipped through a petrol station.

The huge sand vortex was spotted swirling around the dusty yard outside the forecourt shop in Nong Bua Lam Phu, Thailand, on May 2.

Footage shows the thick spinning tornado sweeping through the entire area, causing debris and other items to scatter everywhere.

It then suddenly vanished as if nothing had happened.

Dust devil tornadoes are types of whirlwinds that form when the sun heats a patch of land and the air above becomes warmer and rises quickly.

Cooler air then moves into the low-pressure gap left by the rising warm air. The new drafts of cooler air also heat up and rise and the cycle continues, picking up dust and debris and making the spiral visible.

They are not as dangerous as supercell tornadoes, which can cause severe damage.