Sandstorms occur when winds strengthen to the point where they're able to lift grains of sand off the ground and blow them through the air. ... Moisture tends to hold particles to the ground, so dry conditions often lead to particles being picked up more easily by the wind.

How long does a sandstorm last?

“A sandstorm can last for several hours to a full day,” says Nielsen-Gammon. “Most of the time, sandstorms affect only the air from about 1-3 miles high, so airplanes flying above that range are okay. But on the ground, sand moving at about 50 miles an hour can be a real nightmare.

Do sandstorms hurt?

Did you know that sandstorms can really hurt and even kill people? That's quite scary. It is the number 3 weather condition that can cause serious harm to people in the US. They are also called 'haboobs' in the US, which comes from the Arabic word 'hab' which means 'wind.