Gigantic Cloud of Dust

[Martin]

Return of The Mummy? | the Daily Mail

These bizarre images show a gigantic cloud of dust billowing over an African city.

The dust storm - known as a "Haboob" - gathered over Khartoum, the capital of Sudan in north east Africa yesterday.

It lasted for about two hours, carrying dust and sand from the Sahara across the city.

Haboobs - which are a type of seasonal storm - are formed in summer months.

They are caused by downdrafts created when a thunderstorm reaches its final phase. These downdrafts cause descending air to hit the ground and pick up large amounts of dust.

The gathering dust clouds then travel forward at a speed of 30 mph, creating the frightening spectacle. The dust storms can reach a height of 3,000 feet and contain a wall of sand up to 60 miles wide.

The word Haboob comes from the Arabic for "phenomena".

The Haboob also occurs in America, especially in hot dry states such as Arizona and Texas.