sandstorm

American  

[sand-stawrm] / ˈsændˌstɔrm /

noun

Meteorology.

1. an occurrence of strong winds, especially in a desert, that pick up and carry sand, as from dunes, and typically move along in a series of leaps, effecting the process of saltation.

   Our plan to film on location in Dubai was thwarted by a week of unusually persistent sandstorms.

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sandstorm British  

/ ˈsændˌstɔːm /

noun

1. a strong wind that whips up clouds of sand, esp in a desert

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sandstorm Scientific  

/ sănd′stôrm′ /

1. A strong wind that carries clouds of sand and dust through the air. Most of the particles in a sandstorm are between 0.08 and 1 mm (0.0032 and 0.04 inches) in size. Sandstorms usually are limited to within 3 m (10 ft) of the ground, rarely getting more than 15 m (49 ft) high. They develop in desert areas where loose sand can be stirred up by wind. Most sandstorms occur during the day when the Earth's surface heats up and dissipate at night as it cools.

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Etymology

Origin of sandstorm

First recorded in 1765–75; sand + storm

Example Sentences

Exhausted Afghans cross the border from Iran in a sandstorm, leaving behind a country in the grip of war to return to a homeland that is battered by conflict and humanitarian crisis.

From Barron's • Mar. 11, 2026

In 2013, the band played through a blinding sandstorm.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2024

"And the next moment, a sandstorm can happen. And generals will have to improvise and adapt to the new situations that are happening on the battlefield."

From BBC • Dec. 1, 2023

“What is coming across the Atlantic Ocean is still sand and dust, but we’d definitely not call it a sandstorm at all.”

From Seattle Times • Jul. 21, 2023

"She's a geologist. She knows IR can't get through a sandstorm."

From "The Martian" by Andy Weir