dust storm

Or dust·storm

[duhst stawrm]

noun

Meteorology.

1. an occurrence of strong winds permeating the air with fine particles of dust over an extensive area of normally arable land during a period of drought.

   It was a time of danger and despair on the prairie, with one dust storm after another.

dust storm

noun

1. a windstorm that whips up clouds of dust

Word History and Origins

Origin of dust storm¹

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

Monsoon thunderstorms can trigger dust storms, lightning-sparked wildfires and downpours that result in flooding.

From Los Angeles Times

The surprise delivery occurred just hours after a white-out dust storm ground incoming traffic to a halt as festivalgoers streamed in and attempted to set camp on Monday.

From Los Angeles Times

The storms come amid a surge of monsoonal moisture and instability across the Western U.S., which has brought dangerous dry lightning, major dust storms and rare summer rain over the last few days.

From Los Angeles Times

And as Burning Man kicked off in Nevada’s desert northwest, a major dust storm forced traffic to a halt as attendees tried to avoid the desert’s wrath.

From Los Angeles Times

Immigration raids now sweep through the Valley like dust storms — sudden, unannounced, merciless.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• sandstorm