Incredible wall of sand whipped up by cyclone hit remote stretch of Western Australia

CREEP, JUMP, SUSPEND: HOW SANDSTORMS FORM







A dust or sand storm is a weather phenomenon common in arid regions like the Sahara.



They develop when a strong wind blows loose sand and dirt from a dry surface, firstly causing them to 'creep' along the ground then saltate (or 'leap') into the air.



When the particles then begin to break into smaller ones, they eventually become suspended in the wind.



The term sandstorm is used most often in desert environments while dust storm is applied when finer particles are blown long distances, especially over urban areas.