Haboob

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A haboob moves across the Llano Estacado toward Yellow House Canyon, near the residential community of Ransom Canyon, Texas (2009)
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A haboob

dry land area
regions throughout the world.

Formation and characteristics

During thunderstorm formation, winds move in a direction opposite to the storm's travel, and they move from all directions into the thunderstorm. When the storm collapses and begins to release precipitation, wind directions reverse, gusting outward from the storm and generally gusting the strongest in the direction of the storm's travel.[2][3][4]

When this downdraft of cold air, or downburst, reaches the ground, it sweeps up dry, loose silt and clay (referred to collectively as dust) from the desert, forming a wall of airborne sediment that precedes the storm cloud. This dust wall can span up to 100 km (62 mi) in width and extend several kilometers in elevation. During their peak intensity, haboob winds can reach speeds of 35–100 km/h (22–62 mph) and may approach suddenly with minimal warning. Rain often fails to reach the ground level as it evaporates in the hot, dry air—a phenomenon known as virga). The evaporation process further chills the rushing air and propels it forward. In some instances, persistent rain may carry a significant amount of dust, leading to what is termed as mud storms in severe cases.

Safety

Eye and respiratory system protection is advisable for anyone who must be outside during a haboob. Moving to shelter is highly advised during a strong event.

While operating a vehicle, drivers are advised to pull over to the side of the road and turn off their lights to avoid confusing other drivers in conditions of poor visibility.[5]

Occurrence

Middle East

Haboobs have been observed in the Sahara, Sahel (typically Sudan, where they were named and described), as well as across the Arabian Peninsula, throughout Kuwait, and in the most arid regions of Iraq.[6] Haboob winds in the Arabian Peninsula, Iraq, and Kuwait are frequently created by the collapse of a thunderstorm.

North Africa

Small boat in River Nile Sudan

African haboobs result from the northward summer shift of the Intertropical Convergence Zone into North Africa, bringing moisture from the Gulf of Guinea.

Australia

Haboobs in Australia may be frequently associated with cold fronts. The deserts of Central Australia, especially near Alice Springs, are particularly prone to haboobs, with sand and debris reaching several kilometers into the sky and leaving up to 30 centimetres (1 ft) of sand in the haboob's path.

North America

See also: North American monsoon

As with haboobs in the Middle East, haboob occurrences in North America are often created by the collapse of a thunderstorm. This is a local or mesoscale event, and at times of extreme drought they can originate in agricultural regions. Some of the most famous dust storms of the Dust Bowl and similar conditions later were in fact synoptic scale events typically generated by a strong cold frontal passage, with storms on 11 November 1911, 9–11 May 1934, 14 April 1935, and 19 February 1954 having been particularly vivid examples.

The arid and semiarid regions of

Spokane.[11] In Washington, improved farming practices have led to a decline in large dust storms and haboobs since the 1990s,[12] with the largest likelihood of formation between late March through April, corresponding to the beginning of field tilling in Eastern Washington.[13] In Mexico, they occur in the northern part of the country in the Sonoran and Chihuahuan Desert. Most recently, a haboob impacted the cities of Guaymas, San Carlos, and Empalme, Sonora on 20 July 2023.[14]

Usage of the term by local news publications in the U.S. has sometimes attracted criticism by readers.[15][16][17]

Mars

Global dust storms on Mars have been compared to haboobs on Earth.[18]

Titan

Dust storms of Titan observed in 2009 and 2010 have been compared to haboobs.[19][20] However, the convective storm clouds are composed of liquid methane droplets, and the dust is likely composed of organic tholins.[20]

See also

References

  1. ^ Haboob at the Encyclopædia Britannica
  2. doi:10.1002/qj.49706327111
    .
  3. doi:10.1002/j.1477-8696.1971.tb07402.x
    .
  4. doi:10.1002/j.1477-8696.1985.tb06877.x
    .
  5. ^ US Department of Commerce, NOAA. "Dust Storms and Haboobs". www.weather.gov. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
  6. doi:10.1002/qj.49705121305
    .
  7. doi:10.1175/1520-0477(1972)053<0930:AAH>2.0.CO;2
    .
  8. doi:10.1002/j.1477-8696.1973.tb02253.x
    .
  9. doi:10.1016/S0169-8095(01)00092-8
    .
  10. ^ Ellison, Jake (18 September 2013). "Photos: Major 'haboob' – dust and windstorm – strikes eastern Washington". Seattle PI. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  11. ^ Loyd, Nic; Weiford, Linda (12 August 2021). "Weathercatch: Dust-filled drama of past teaches lesson for future". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  12. ^ Vaughn, Kim (1 April 2021). "Get ready, it's haboob season". Department of Ecology State of Washington. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  13. ^ Vaughn, Kim (1 April 2021). "What you need to know about dust storms in Washington". Department of Ecology State of Washington. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  14. ^ Grupo Healy (20 July 2023). "Tormenta de arena cubre Guaymas; Protección Civil Sonora emite medidas para la población" [Dust storm covers Guaymas; Protección Civil Sonora issues safety measures]. El Imparcial (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  15. ^ Samenow, Jason (31 May 2016). "Arabic weather term 'haboob' is apparently troubling for some Texans". The Washington Post. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
  16. ^ Lacey, Marc (22 July 2011). "'Haboobs' Stir Critics in Arizona". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
  17. ^ Hauser, Christine; Jiménez, Jesus (13 May 2022). "Haboob? Derecho? By Any Name, Plains Dust Storm Was Strong". Retrieved 22 March 2025. Some local news outlets referred to the dust blackout as a "haboob" — a term more commonly used in the Middle East and sometimes a source of irritation for American weather watchers.
  18. ^ Boyle, R. (9 March 2017). "Everything About Mars Is the Worst". FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  19. S2CID 135135003
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  20. ^
    S2CID 134006536
    .
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