Why dust storms happen

This can cause problems with breathing, especially if you already have a health issue with your lungs. For some people, breathing in the dust from a dust storm can cause an asthma attack or other breathing problem. Breathing dust for a long time can lead to long-term breathing, heart or lung problems. Depending on the health condition involved, breathing in dust from a dust storm could trigger an asthma attack, allergic reaction, make it difficult to breathe or even cause a heart-related problem.

If you have asthma or another chronic respiratory condition and you experience chest tightness, wheezing, coughing or shortness of breath, you should follow your prescribed action or treatment plan.

If the symptoms don't get better, you should see your doctor. You should also see your doctor if you have any concerns or experience breathing problems or other worsening symptoms from a pre-existing heart or other chronic condition.

If you have asthma, try to stay indoors with windows, doors and air vents closed. Take your preventer medication and avoid exercising outdoors. If you have one, stick to your asthma or other action plan or treatment plan. If you are caught in a dust storm while driving, turn on the 'recirculation' air intake to minimise the amount of dust entering your car.

If you can't see ahead of you clearly, slow down. Be prepared to pull over and stop if visibility is very low. For further information about weather conditions, visit the Australian Bureau of Meteorology website at www. Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.

Read more on SA Health website. Read more on National Asthma Council Australia website. Dust Storm Safety Tips If dense dust is observed blowing across or approaching a roadway, pull your vehicle off the pavement as far as possible, stop, turn off lights, set the emergency brake, take your foot off of the brake pedal to be sure the tail lights are not illuminated. Don't enter the dust storm area if you can avoid it. If you can't pull off the roadway, proceed at a speed suitable for visibility, turn on lights and sound horn occasionally.

Use the painted center line to help guide you. Look for a safe place to pull off the roadway. Dust storms — and their lingering effects — can be hazardous for several reasons:. A dust storm approaching Stratford, Texas, in April Marsh Album. If a dust storm is spotted in your area, your local National Weather Service forecast office will issue a dust storm warning. Scientists can also use weather satellites to catch the first signs of a dust storm to help forecasters give an even earlier warning.

The instrument, called the Advanced Baseline Imager ABI for short , is like a camera that takes pictures with many different filters. They mostly occur during summer, but can occur in spring too in the United States. How big are the particles in a sandstorm? A lot of the particles in a dust storm or sandstorm are between 0. How do you navigate during a sandstorm?

It is very dangerous to navigate through a sandstorm, since your ability to see ahead can be severely obstructed. Additionally, sand can get into the nose, eyes, mouth and lungs. If you happen to be caught in a sandstorm protective eyewear like goggles, and wearing a moistened scarf over the nose and mouth are highly recommended.

What are some hazards of a sandstorm? Sandstorms usually arrives suddenly in the form of an advancing wall of dust and debris which may be miles long and several thousand feet high. They strike with little warning, making driving conditions hazardous.

Blinding, choking dust can quickly reduce visibility, causing accidents that may involve chain collisions, creating massive pileups. Sandstorms usually last only a few minutes, but the actions a motorist takes during the storm may be the most important of his or her life.