haboob
Violent dust storm
A haboob is a violent dust storm or sandstorm, typically occurring in arid regions when a collapsing thunderstorm's downdraft lifts massive walls of dust that can reach thousands of feet high.
The term comes from Arabic and is used especially for storms in Sudan, Arizona, and other desert areas: The haboob reduced visibility to near zero.
Wind-driven desert grit
- dust stormWind-carried soil phenomenon
- thunderstormViolent weather with lightning
- downdraftDescending air current
- outflowFluid exiting a system
microburst · convection · derecho · squall · tempest · monsoon · windstorm · turbulence
Made hard to perceive
- blindingPainfully intense light
- zero visibilityNo sight possible
- whiteoutSnow blindness weather
- brownoutTemporary power decrease
blackout · haze · murky · shroud · veil · dimness · opacity · darkening
Largest hot desert
- GobiCentral Asian arid region
- SonoranOf a specific southwestern desert
- KalahariSouthern African semi-desert
- ArabianOf the peninsula
arid · dunes · sand · scorching · sunbaked · barren · desolate · oasis
Minute airborne solids or droplets
- sedimentParticles settling in liquid
- siltWaterborne earth particles
- debrisScattered broken fragments
- gritDetermination or abrasive particles
fine sand · airborne · suspended · choking · respiratory · allergens · inhalation · irritation
sandstorm
Wind-driven desert grit
- dust stormWind-carried soil phenomenon
- thunderstormViolent weather with lightning
- downdraftDescending air current
outflow · microburst · convection · derecho · squall · tempest · monsoon · windstorm · turbulence · vortex
obscured
Made hard to perceive
- blindingPainfully intense light
- zero visibilityNo sight possible
- whiteoutSnow blindness weather
brownout · blackout · haze · murky · shroud · veil · dimness · opacity · darkening · engulfing
Sahara
Largest hot desert
- GobiCentral Asian arid region
- SonoranOf a specific southwestern desert
- KalahariSouthern African semi-desert
Arabian · arid · dunes · sand · scorching · sunbaked · barren · desolate · oasis · nomad
particulates
Minute airborne solids or droplets
grit · fine sand · airborne · suspended · choking · respiratory · allergens · inhalation · irritation · abrasive
gust
Brief wind surge
rushing · sweeping · howling · roaring · sustained · intense · powerful · violent · forceful · driving
- weather phenomenatornado, wind, hurricane, gust, blizzard
- desert climatearid, aridity, dry heat, extreme heat, scorching heat
- desert featuresmirage, sandstorm, sand dunes, oasis, dust devil
- natural disastersearthquake, tornado, hurricane, tsunami, volcanic eruption
- severe weatherblizzard, hurricane, cyclone, hailstorm, ice storm
- Southwest Desertsaguaro, saguaro cactus, Sonoran Desert, Sonoran, prickly pear
haboobcalm
Free from agitation
gentle breeze · stillness · zephyr · dead calm · still air
haboobclear skies
Absence of cloud cover
clean air · blue sky · transparency · blue skies · clarity