Publication Date September 8, 2015 | National Geographic

Explaining the Monster Dust Storm Sweeping the Middle East

Iraq
NASA
NASA

The storm blowing across the Middle East has reduced visibility and sent thousands of people to hospitals with breathing problems in parts of Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan, Israel, and Cyprus. The storm has been blowing for at least two days and is thought to have started in Syria and Iraq. It is expected to continue until Wednesday...Haboobs are most common in hot and dry conditions, which have been prevalent across much of the Middle East this summer. The two ingredients needed are an availability of dust or sand particles at the surface and enough sustained wind to get those particles moving, says Waters

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