Haboob: Causes, Appearance And Warning Signs

The term “haboob” is an Arabic word that means “drifting or blowing.” Haboobs are similar to monsoons in their intensity, but they are storms made of dust rather than rain.

While monsoons affect tropical islands and coastal areas, haboobs are confined to dry land-locked areas. They are prevalent in the Sahara Desert, but they also happen in the United States, particularly in the southwestern states. To an onlooker, a haboob appears as a large wall of dust that races over a desert landscape or open tract of land. The haboob is created as a result of thunderstorm activity when high winds are pushed rapidly downwards and horizontally across the ground as the tall thunderstorm cloud collapses. Storms are prefaced with a cold front, which sends cold air rushing towards the ground. The quickly moving air collects large volumes of sand and dust as it hits the ground. The force of the wind, combined with the light weight of the sand and dust particles, is enough to create large, quickly moving walls of dust away from the collapsing thunderstorm cloud. The largest dust storms created by haboobs can be so massive that they block out the sun and cover everything in their path.

Like other types of sand and dust storms, haboobs can appear with little or no warning. Quite often, the only sign that they might appear is when a cold front is approaching that looks to bring showers or thunderstorms. Haboobs can generate a surprising amount of speed – up to 62 MPH at their top speed – and coat everything in their path. If haboobs are followed by or accompanied by rain, they are called mud storms. The mud that winds kick up can easily coat buildings, cars, and homes in their path, which can cause quite a bit of damage and take a long time to clean up. Haboobs can be impressive to see, as they can rise up to 3,000 feet and cover an area over 100 miles wide. In parts of Arizona, haboobs have been reported as tall as 5,000 feet! Since haboobs kick up dust and debris, they can pose a safety hazard to humans and animals. If a haboob is imminent, seeking shelter from the dust storm is highly recommended. Fortunately, most people will seek shelter anyways if they see a thundercloud approaching, which also protects them from the troublesome effects of a haboob.

Between the strength of the winds involved and the fact that the storm stirs up dust and dirt, wearing eye protection and protecting the respiratory system is strongly advised. Furthermore, the high winds generated in a haboob can lift up rocks and other debris on the ground and send them flying through the air. Travelers in a vehicle should pull off to the side of the road and turn off the car's engine until the storm passes and visibility improves. During the storm, visibility may drop down to less than 10 feet in under a minute! Even after a haboob passes, the effects can linger for days. Air quality may be reduced, and people may have trouble breathing. Eye irritation and respiratory complaints are often reported after a haboob passes. Staying indoors as much as possible until the air clears after a haboob is the best way to escape its harmful effects.