Haboobs in Texas: What Causes Them and How to Stay Safe

I live at the top of the only skyscraper in town, and seeing dust storms and haboobs from that vantage point is pretty wild! Buildings, parks, cars, and everything else simply disappear, and you're looking out at nothing but dirt. It's crazy. I had a friend over yesterday when the dirt storm hit Lubbock, and they were mesmerized, staring out my window, watching the city vanish before their eyes.

So, what causes a haboob?

Haboobs, or huge dust storms, are caused by down drafts after thunderstorms. Cold down drafts are far denser and blow out ahead of the storm. When this outflow occurs, sometimes, it picks up dust. Not just a little dust- a lot of dust. With this portion of Texas being as dry as it is, we're bound to see a few haboobs a year.

Are haboobs dangerous? How can I stay safe?

Haboobs are pretty obnoxious, but as long as you remain indoors, you're pretty safe. It's more when you're out on the road driving or standing directly in one that they can become dangerous. Be sure to pull over to a safe place to wait out a big haboob or dust storm if you're on the road. It may seem like it's just a little dirt, but you can get into a serious accident if you become disoriented while driving through the storm. You may not be able to see anything around you at all. You'll also have an exceptionally hard time breathing in one at all. Stay inside and safe!