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What is a haboob? Dust storm stuns El Paso County with towering wall of dust
Sightings of a large wall of dust moving through El Paso happened over the weekend, with dozens sharing video and photos of a hazy, ominous skyline.
The intense dust storm, also known as a haboob, arrived in the region just before 7 p.m. on Sunday, June 15, according to satellite images released by the National Weather Service. The winds triggered a dust storm advisory in the evening hours due to reduced visibility of less than a mile.
Many El Pasoans captured the haboob, including Ray Chiarello, who shared a panoramic photo shot by his drone as the dust passed over the Franklin Mountains.
While dust storms and haboobs can happen anywhere, they are most common in the Southwest, according to the National Weather Service.
Here's what you need to know about haboobs and what to do if you encounter one.
Haboobs occur as a result of thunderstorm outflow winds, according to the National Weather Service. Strong thunderstorm winds can start a dust storm that can drastically reduce visibility.
A haboob, derived from the 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.
Here are some tips for driving through dust storms, courtesy of the National Weather Service.
If dense dust is observed blowing across or approaching a roadway, pull your vehicle off the pavement as far as possible, stop, turn off lights, set the emergency brake, and take your foot off the brake pedal to be sure the tail lights are not illuminated.
Avoid entering the dust storm area if possible.
If you can't pull off the roadway, proceed at a speed suitable for visibility, turn on lights and sound horn occasionally. Use the painted center line to help guide you. Look for a safe place to pull off the roadway.
Never stop on the traveled portion of the roadway.
USA Today contributed to this report.
Natassia Paloma may be reached at npaloma@ @NatassiaPaloma on Twitter; natassia_paloma on Instagram, and Natassia Paloma Thompson on Facebook.
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This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: What is a haboob? Dust storm stuns El Paso with towering wall of dust
