Imagine you're driving down the road and then, suddenly, the air around your car is totally filled with dust. This is what can happen during the weather phenomenon known as a haboob.
A haboob is a type of dust storm that forms after a thunderstorm. They are usually quite large and can be thousands of feet high and up to 100 miles wide.
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During thunderstorms, cold air rushes down to the ground and spreads out. When this happens in an arid or semiarid region, the wind can kick up dust, forming a haboob.
Haboobs form very quickly. Within a matter of seconds, they can dramatically reduce visibility. This means they pose a threat to motorists.
It's important to be alert during a haboob because the strong winds can knock down trees and power lines.
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Haboobs are usually over within a couple of hours.
In the U.S., haboobs are most likely to occur in the Southwest during July and August, according to AccuWeather.