Surviving a Lubbock Dust Storm: What to Do When Haboobs Hit

Lubbock and the rest of West Texas often get hit with some nasty dust storms. Rather than trying to relive the Dust Bowl from the 1930s, there are some tricks to avoiding getting caught in the chaos.

What Are Haboobs?

The National Weather Service (NWS) provided explanations as to what separates a dust storm from a haboob in West Texas.

The NWS explains that dust storms and haboobs (particularly nasty dust storms) happen all over the country, but are most common in the southwestern states.

Strong winds generated by thunderstorms can elevate a dust storm into a haboob, and NWS Lubbock will send warnings if these major severe weather events are about to occur.

Dust Storm Dangers in West Texas

Dust storms typically arrive quickly and are easily identified by the massive wall of dirt and debris, miles long and several thousand feet high.

These storms can make driving and breathing hazardous, often causing blinding, choking, reduced visibility, and car accidents leading to massive pileups.

Dust Storm Safety Tips in Lubbock, TX

NWS provides some safety tips when encountering a dust storm in and around Lubbock:

• Pull your vehicle off the road as far from the pavement as safely possible
  • Set your emergency brake and remove your foot from the brake pedal to avoid illuminating your tail lights
  • You don't want cars behind you following your lights, thinking they are still on the roadway
• Avoid entering the dust storm, if possible
• If on a highway or a road that you cannot immediately pull off of, then lower your speed, turn on your lights, sound your horn occasionally, and use the center line in the road as a guide until safely pulling off of the road
• Never stop in the middle of a road or street