Dust storms are the most dramatic type of weather we see in the Valley every year. Although they only happen a few times a year, they’re very common on the other side of the world in the Sahara Desert. Another word for a dust storm is “haboob,” which is Arabic for the word blown.
Haboobs are giant walls of dust created when a storm collapses. Cold air in front of the storm rushes downward at an incredible pace, picking up dust and sand that explode into the air.
As the dust storm moves, it can completely block out the sun, turning day into night almost instantly and making it nearly impossible to see just a few feet in front of you. Visibility can be reduced from a quarter mile to zero.
This wall of dust can reach heights between 1,500 and 3,000 feet. It can also stretch as far as 100 miles wide. To put that into perspective, it’s the distance between Phoenix and Tucson.
Haboobs strike most often during the monsoon, but they also can form throughout the year. They can come from any direction, regardless of the wind. Arizona can see up to 30 haboobs a year.
If you’re out and you see a dust storm, it is best to get indoors. It’s easy to be hurt by flying rock and debris being thrown around by winds up to 50 mph. Dust from these storms can linger in our air for days.
