Dubai sandstorms – What are they and why do they happen?

Sandstorms are particularly common given the hot, arid climate in Dubai. What causes them, and why do they usually occur during summers? Let’s find out!

ALL ABOUT THE SANDSTORMS

WHAT IS A SANDSTORM?

How do sandstorms occur? A sandstorm happens when the wind whips up the top level of sand in a desert or other dry area and blows it around in the air.

WHY DO SANDSTORMS HAPPEN?

Sandstorms are caused by high winds.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SANDSTORM AND A DUST STORM?

Sandstorms happen in the desert or in any environment where the soil mainly consists of sand. They include large and small dust particles. On the other hand, dust storms happen when the wind blows small dirt and dust particles into the air, usually in urban areas.

• Sandstorms vs. Dust Storms: Sandstorms travel for longer distances than dust storms.

WHAT IS HABOOB?

“Haboob” is the Arabic word for a violent storm. Haboobs are low-visibility dust walls created when a thunderstorm cell pushes air downward and collects dirt, dust and other light debris as it advances.

• Haboobs and Dust Storms: Strong stormy gusts make haboobs stronger.

HOW HIGH CAN A SANDSTORM GET?

Typical sandstorms can be 50 feet tall, but sand particles from a storm can reach much greater heights in rare circumstances. The height of a sandstorm depends on how strong the wind is.

HOW FAST CAN SANDSTORMS MOVE?

A sandstorm moves at a speed of at least 25 miles per hour.

WHERE DO SANDSTORMS OCCUR?

Sandstorms occur in dry, desert areas worldwide. In the United States, they are more likely to happen in arid states like Texas, Arizona, Oklahoma, Kansas or New Mexico.

• The Dust Bowl: The Dust Bowl was a prolonged series of dust storms that lasted from 1930 until 1936 in the southwestern United States.

WHEN DO SANDSTORMS OCCUR?

Sandstorms might happen in the spring, but they mostly occur in summer.

• Shamal Winds: In the Middle East, shamal winds can bring sandstorms in the winter months.

HOW BIG ARE THE PARTICLES IN A SANDSTORM?

Sandstorm particles are 0.0032 and 0.04 inches in diameter.

WHAT HAZARDS CAN A SANDSTORM CAUSE?

Sandstorms are dangerous because they can happen without warning. It’s hard to drive in a sandstorm because of the low visibility and strong winds. Dangers of sandstorms include car accidents or multi-car pile-ups. Sandstorms are also hazardous to people with breathing problems like asthma.

• Tips for Driving During a Dust Storm: It is best to avoid driving and stay home. If you can’t, get off of the road as soon as possible.

FAMOUS SANDSTORMS IN DUBAI

• 2008 Dubai Sandstorm: In 2008, visibility was severely reduced when a dense sandstorm hit Dubai.
• 2012 Dubai Sandstorm: Several sandstorms hit Dubai during May 2012.
• 2015 UAE Sandstorm: A 2015 huge sandstorm temporarily halted airport traffic, made driving impossible and sent dozens of people to the hospital with respiratory infections.
• June 2019 Sandstorm: Temperatures soared to 49 degrees Celsius (more than 120 degrees Fahrenheit), and then the air pressure dropped, leading to simultaneous sandstorms and thunderstorms.

ALL ABOUT THE DESERT BIOME

WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A DESERT? 

Deserts are areas with an annual rainfall of fewer than 10 inches. There’s very little water, and moisture evaporates quickly, making the soil dry and sandy.

• The Driest Desert in the World: The Atacama Desert in Chile is the driest non-polar desert globally, with an average rainfall of 0.6 inches per year.
• The Hottest Desert in the World: Iran’s Lut Desert is the hottest in the world. Temperatures have regularly exceeded 150 degrees Fahrenheit, reaching an all-time high of 159.3 degrees in 2005.

HOT DAYS AND COLD NIGHTS

Deserts are hot in the day and cold at night because of their low humidity. The ground isn’t insulated, so it can’t store heat. Temperatures can reach 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the day but then drop becoming colder (more than freezing) after nightfall.

• Antarctica: The Coldest Desert: Antarctica is actually the world’s largest, driest and coldest desert.
• All About Desert Soils: Desert soils are usually either aridisols or entisols.

WHERE ARE THE MAJOR HOT AND DRY DESERTS?

North Africa’s Sahara Desert is the biggest non-polar desert in the world, with an area of more than three million square miles. Other notable deserts include the Death Valley in the United States, the Gobi Desert in Mongolia and China, and the Kalahari Desert in south-central Africa.

• The Gobi Desert: Snow leopards and camels live in the dunes and grasslands of the Gobi Desert.
• The Kalahari Desert: The Kalahari Desert extends from South Africa to Botswana and Namibia.

HOW DO ANIMALS SURVIVE IN THE DESERT?

Animals survive in the desert by adapting their routines and diets. Nocturnal animals move and eat at night to avoid the sweltering heat. To keep cool, they burrow under the sand.

• How Camels Use Their Humps to Survive: Camels were historically used by nomadic tribes living in deserts because these animals could walk for long distances.
• The Cheetah’s Wild Life: Cheetahs live in many types of habitats, including deserts. These endangered animals are extraordinarily fast and have excellent vision.

WHAT PLANTS CAN SURVIVE IN DESERTS?

It’s really unusual to see tall trees as only specific plants can survive in the desert. These are usually plants that can store water in their leaves, trunks or stems.

• Cacti and Desert Plants: Many desert plants are succulents – they can store water until needed.
• Desert Habitat Facts: Desert plants have longer taproots that help them reach groundwater reserves in the deeper soil layers.

Check out our article on dealing with sandstorms, detailing the considerations to have due to this phenomena. Preventive actions to take and how to best deal with the aftermath. Potential differences in considerations if you’re merely renting an apartment in Dubai or you’re looking to  get your own place in the City of Gold.

Moreover, differences between apartments and other accommodation types require assessing as well as there can be notable differences, say if you’re renting a villa. Both similarities and differences are essential considerations!