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Video captures a haboob dust storm meeting stormy Texas skyline
Video captures a haboob dust storm meeting stormy Texas skyline
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Massive dust wall appears to converge with eerie storm clouds
A wall of dust appeared to rise from the ground to greet storm clouds in West Texas.
A large wall of dust, or a haboob, painted a brown streak across a gloomy skyline in West Texas earlier this week.
Juan Cisneros captured the exact moment when the dust, driven by strong winds, rose from the ground to meet thunderstorm clouds in Pecos, a city located over 70 miles southwest of Odessa, on Tuesday, June 10.
It takes, according to Cisnero's video, only a few seconds for the natural weather event to cloak the surrounding area in earth. The National Service in Midland issued a Dust Storm Warning and Advisory around 6:44 p.m., when a dust channel was spotted over Barstow, near Pecos.
The Dust Storm Warning was issued for municipalities in Reeves County and neighboring Ward County through a portion of Tuesday evening.
The agency warned motorists of "near zero visibility" and "strong winds" in dust-affected areas, including Pecos, which made for "dangerous, life-threatening travel."
"Dust storms lead to dangerous driving conditions with visibility reduced to near zero. If driving, avoid dust storms if possible," the agency said in its advisory. "If caught in one, pull off the road, turn off your lights and keep your foot off the brake."
The agency's warning continued: 'Motorists should not drive into a dust storm. PULL ASIDE STAY ALIVE!'
A severe thunderstorm warning was also in effect for regions across western and southwestern Texas until 9 p.m. local time.
What is a haboob? The weather term defined
A haboob, derived from Arabic term "habb" which means to blow, was originally used to describe "wind or sandstorms" that occurred in central and northern Sudan, which averages about 24 a year, according to the American Meteorological Society.
Now, it is typically used to describe "any" intense wind-driven sandstorm or dust storm that can loft sand or dust thousands of feet into the air, creating a visually stunning "wall of dust," according to the American Meteorological Society.
Haboobs occur when air is forced down and pushed forward by traveling thunderstorm cell, dragging dust and debris with it, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Haboobs have been seen in the Middle East, Arabian Peninsula, the Sahara Desert and in central Australia. In the U.S., haboobs are typically observed in regions in the Southwest, from the Sonoran Desert of northwest Mexico and Arizona to the western portions of the Great Plains, according to the American Meteorological Society.
What to do if you're caught in a dust storm
Since visibility can fall quickly when driving near dust sources, the National Weather Service in El Paso has encouraged motorists to "use caution and have a plan if 'brown-out' conditions happen while on the road."
Here are some tips that may help, if you are to ever find yourself in the middle of dust storm:
