Haboob Possible in the West US Following Winter Storms and Fire Weather Conditions

A haboob, known in the US as a sand storm or dust storm, can possibly occur in the West US following winter storms and fire weather conditions, according to US weather forecasters.

For over a year, there have been incidents of vehicular accidents due to the occurrence of a wall of dust and debris across the country.

Potential Haboob in the West

CNN meteorologists said last week that there is a potential for the development of haboob or a wall of dust along the cold front following two winter storms and fire weather conditions that struck the Cascades and the western-central US.

The report said winds will create a fire hazard in the region, where wildfires could quickly ignite and spread, in addition to low humidity levels and warmer temperatures ahead of the cold front.

While there is no specific timeline for the haboob, it can occur any time across the region, especially during a severe weather.

What is a Haboob?

Common in the Middle East and other dry land regions worldwide, haboobs are forces of nature not to be reckoned with.

It is a type of an intense dust storm, also called as a dust cloud or sand storm, which are known for carrying dust, soil, debris, and small rocks in the air forming a swirling vortex of air.

In spite of its resemblance to tornadoes, haboobs are a different weather phenomenon.

In the US, the National Weather Service (NWS) stated that dust storms and haboobs can occur anywhere in the country, especially in the Southwest region, adding that a haboob can occur due to thunderstorm outflow winds.

To put emphasis, strong thunderstorm winds can trigger a dust storm that can drastically reduce visibility, causing vehicular accidents that can involve chain collisions.

The NWS warned motorists to take precaution since the wall of dust and debris could reach miles long and several thousand feet high.

The US weather agency also emphasized that these natural phenomena can occur with little or without warning.

US Sand Storm Accidents

In recent years, sandstorms in different parts of the US have led to several road traffic accidents, leading to fatalities and injuries.

In July 2021, The New York Times cited state officials that at least eight people died, including children, and several others sustained injuries when a sand storm that blinded drivers led to a multi-vehicular pileup in southwestern Utah state.

The Utah Highway Patrol stated that it appeared 22 vehicles were involved in the crash after visibility was impaired by the high winds caused by the dust storm.

In July, another deadly haboob occurred in the state of Montana, leading to a pileup of 21 vehicles, including six commercial semi-trucks, that left six people dead and eight others hospitalized due to their injuries, according to USA Today.

The disaster occurred when visibility also became poor along Montana's Interstate 90.

While investigations were also conducted in the said road accidents for possible human error or potential criminal element involved in the case, local authorities reportedly attributed the chain collisions to the dust clouds.