Haboob Warning - Chicago/Illinois Area

American friends living in the Chicago/Illinois area tell me that they are receiving emergency telephone warnings about a large incoming dust storm in their area.

Dust storms known as haboobs (arabic:  هَبوب habub - “blasting/drifting”) more normally occur in semi-arid areas of the south-western states of USA, and are caused by the collapse of thunderstorm systems, leading to a reversal of winds, and downdraft of cold descending air picking up dust and debris from the ground as it advances.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haboob

The last major haboob in the Illinois area on 1 May 2023 caused an 84 car pile-up on Interstate 55 that killed eight people and injured dozens more.

https://farmdocdaily.illinois.edu/2025/04/research-conservation-reviewing-the-illinois-dust-storm-of-2023.html

From an IRC chat just a few minutes ago —>

[00:28:33] <e******l> We just got an emergency notification on our phones for a dust storm coming our way.  That's the first I've ever seen in this area.

[00:29:19] <toucana> they call them haboobs in some parts of USA ?

[00:30:51] <e*****l> Looks like.  I just searched Google for "haboob", and instead of getting boob jokes, I got the definition and a map of our warning area.

[00:33:41] <toucana> It's from the arabic word  هَبوب,   haboob meaning "blasting/drifting"

[00:34:44] <toucana> Normally happen in places like Arizona, but they also happen sometimes in midwest areas like Iowa

[00:35:02] <e****l> Also, that explains why when I've been outside today I have felt like I had stuff getting in my eyes.  I actually did!

[00:50:06] <e****l> I'm in Chicago, Illinois

[01:02:44] <e****l> It is getting dark here from the dust.

[01:02:54] <e****l> The wind has started to really pick up.

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Edited May 17May 17 by toucana
corrected typo L1 - 'warnings'