Haboob with 70 mph winds covers Lubbock in dust

Tuesday, March 23, 2021
LUBBOCK, Texas (KTRK) -- A dust storm warning was issued in Lubbock Monday evening as large, thick clouds of dust formed across the area.

A timelapse video of the dust storm showed how the cloud covered the city. You can see the haboob in the video player above.
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Wind gusts were moving at a rate of nearly 70 miles per hour.

Lubbock also experienced small amounts of hail as rain moved through during the day.

RELATED: What is a haboob? What to know about type of giant dust storm
What is a haboob? What to know about type of giant dust storm


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.

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.
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