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Weather Words: Haboob

Imagine a HUGE wall of dust coming that you that drops visibility almost instantly

By Danielle Banks • May 13, 2025

Imagine a HUGE wall of dust as high as 5000 feet tall coming at you that looks like something out of a sci-fi movie! Visibility can drop to zero in a matter of seconds, making a haboob a big danger. They can also cause tree damage and knock out power. Haboobs can last tens of minutes or a few hours, and sometimes deposit large quantities of sand or dust.

One of the most interesting things about haboobs is that they are caused by strong winds flowing downward and outward from thunderstorms. Since all thunderstorms produce these gusty winds, in order to generate a haboob, the storm needs to be in a location wh

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