A sudden wall of dust swallowed part of I-10 in New Mexico, turning the highway into a dangerous blur of brown. In the chaos, ...

"The National Weather Service in Tucson has issued a Dust Storm Warning for: South Central Pinal County in southeastern Arizona, Until 5:30 p.m. MST. At 4:31 p.m. MST, an area of blowing dust was ...

Haboob is an Arabic word for a violent dust or sandstorm. They form when cold downdrafts from thunderstorms slam into the hot desert floor, spreading out in all directions.

People impacted by the poor conditions were urged to pull over and keep their lights off and foot off the brake.

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.

A fast-moving dust storm shrouded southwestern New Mexico and parts of northern Mexico in darkness Monday morning, prompting an emergency alert for drivers to “shelter in place” as officials tried to ...

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.

The haboob grew as it whipped east across the dry, dusty landscape. High wind warnings were in effect Monday in the Southwest alongside low humidity, increasing the threat of wildfire.

You can see the haboob in the video player above. 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.

This, I have come to learn, is also called a haboob, which is a term more often used in the Middle East. The whole haboob could have been a wild coincidence.