A haboob is a duststorm or sandstorm as they sometimes occur in the deserts. The outflow of cool air from thunderstorms can create similar duststorms, when the cool downdraft of air reaches ground and has to spread out along the surface. Gustfronts are usually responsible for these sandstorms. More generally, haboobs form late in the evening due to thermal gradients in the lower atmosphere, caused by extreme daytime heating, and last one or more hours.

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