Haboob

A haboob (Arabic: هَبوب, romanized: habūb, lit.'blasting/drifting') is an atmospheric density current forming an intense dust storm generated by strong winds from the downdrafts of thunderstorms or, less commonly, weather fronts. These storms occur in arid and semi-arid regions worldwide, including West Asia, North Africa, Australia, and North America, and have also been observed on Mars and Titan. A haboob typically forms when cold air from a thunderstorm rushes downward, causing high winds at the surface which lift dust into the air.

In Khartoum, Sudan, haboobs have been historically documented as reaching up to 2,000 m (7,000 ft) high, advancing at up to 70 km/h (45 mph), and lasting as long as 6 1/2 hours. Haboobs can occasionally span distances as long as 1,000 km (600 mi).