Haboob

weather · dust storms · deserts · extreme

Born from thunderstorms. Haboobs form when cold air from inside a thunderstorm rushes downward really fast, hitting the ground and spreading outward with powerful winds that scoop up dust and sand.

Looks like a wall. These storms create a dramatic wall of dust that can stretch for miles and tower thousands of feet into the air, sometimes looking like something from a movie.

Desert storms mainly. Haboobs happen in dry, dusty places like North Africa, the Middle East, Australia, and the southwestern United States where there's lots of loose sand and soil to lift up.

Red dust clouds. The enormous clouds of dust can turn the sky reddish or orange and make it hard to see, sometimes blocking out the sun during the day.

Even on other worlds. Haboobs don't just happen on Earth, scientists have spotted similar dust storms on Mars and on Titan, one of Saturn's moons.