See a rare 'haboob' blow dust through eastern Washington

[unhappycamper]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2014/08/13/haboob-dust-storm-eastern-washington/13989481/



See a rare 'haboob' blow dust through eastern Washington
KREM-TV 2:55 a.m. EDT August 13, 2014

A huge dust storm known as a "haboob" rolled through through Eastern Washington Tuesday, leaving a trail of amazing photos in its wake.

Witnesses described the haboob as a wall of dust slowing creeping over the area. Viewers sent in dozens of photos of the dust wall as it moved and created zero visibility for drivers on Interstate 90.

A haboob, derived from the Arabic word haab for wind or blow, is a very strong dust and sand storm that moves through hot and dry regions. They're common in arid regions such as the Sahara desert, the Arabian peninsula, and North Africa. In the U.S., they regularly occur in Arizona.

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More pics of haboobs in the US: https://www.google.com/search?site=&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1536&bih=702&q=haboob+washington+state&oq=haboob+washington+state

[Half-Century Man]

1. Welcome to the Neo-Altithermal period

The difference between Folsom and Clovis points.

[procon]

3. I've sat through many haboob winds in Arizona, Texas

and currently, California's great Mojave Desert. They can last for hours and the powerful, gusty winds can can cause damage. The bad ones can block out the sun and the noise is as loud as a hurricane.

I can look out my window as the wind scours the road and resurfaces my driveway. There is the constant din of windblown sand scratching on windows and walls, and even though my house is pretty weather-tight, sand as fine as talcum powder soon coats every surface. Makes it hard to breathe for man and beast.

BTW, thank you. I learned something new, and quite relative, "Neo-Altithermal period"; not a bad way to start the day.

[Warpy]

2. I guess we're lucky in NM

that we don't get the fine dust that blows in like a 1920s black blizzard. Our dust is heavier, sandier, and drives contact lens wearers back to their glasses until it's over while it sand blasts everything outdoors. I think I actually prefer it that way.