Have you ever been in a storm when it was raining so hard that it seemed like all you could see was water? How about a storm when it seemed like all you could see was dust ?Storms like those are called dust storms. During dust storms, the wind picks up clouds of dust and sand and blows them violently through the air, with dangerous consequences. Read on to learn more about these dangerous dust storms.
Without another word, the woman ran back in her house and shut the front door. The husband and wife stood at their front window. A few minutes later, the sky began to darken. And then, sand and dust were everywhere, blowing all around the house. This lasted for almost an hour.
The woman and her husband were watching an especially violent type of dust storm. A dust storm is a kind of storm where wind picks up clouds of sand and dust from the desert and blows them into the air. Phoenix is located in the middle of the Sonoran Desert. It gets several dust storms every year. Most of the dust storms are very small, but some of them are very big. A large, thick dust storm hit Phoenix in 2011. It was more than a mile tall and 50 miles wide. Severe dust storms can last for up to three hours.
These dust storms happen in other areas too. Countries in the northern part of Africa can get very violent dust storms that last a long time. If this type of dust storm strikes near a farm, it can cover the farm with dust and sand. This means the farmer can no longer plant crops. Often the farm must be abandoned.
Dust storms can be very dangerous. When a dust storm hits, it makes it difficult to see. If you are outside during a dust storm, you may not be able to see more than a few inches in front of you. When a dust storm is approaching Phoenix, the local weather stations start broadcasting warnings for people to get off the street. People are told to park their cars, so they don't crash. Airplanes are not allowed to take off from or land at the Phoenix airport because the pilots cannot see well.
The dust in a dust storm can also make people sick. Some of the dust can carry pesticides and toxins. People go inside during a dust storm so that they do not inhale the dust. People with pets, like dogs and cats and horses, also bring their animals inside so that they do not get sick.
Weather forecasters are always trying to get better at predicting when a dust storm will happen. The sooner they know a dust storm is coming, the sooner they can warn people about it. The sooner people are warned about a dust storm, the more lives will be saved. This is because more people will be able to get to safely before the dust storm strikes.
Paul Fisher and his family have lived in Arizona for more than 20 years. He can remember seeing many intense dust storms during that time. One time, he was out walking his dog, Jimbo, shortly after he had moved to Phoenix. As he was walking, he looked out at the desert and saw what looked like a big, dark wall. He started at it for a few minutes. Suddenly, he realized what he was looking at. He grabbed Jimbo and ran back to the house. He was just able to get inside before the storm hit.
"Once you're in a [violent dust storm], you never forget it," he said. "It's like a thunderstorm. But instead of rain, all you can see is sand."
1/9/2011
Levic
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