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Hikers Capture Video Of Massive Dust Storm Closing In On Phoenix

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A group of hikers captured video of a massive dust storm just as it was rolling through the Phoenix area Sunday.

The hikers were atop Camelback Mountain in Phoenix when the giant dust storm, known as a haboob, rolled through the area. They posted the video to Reddit under the username u/sammalonespitbull.

The hikers' mountain-top view gave a new perspective of the massive dust storm, which was captured from the ground by many social media users.

So what, exactly, is a haboob?

"With a lack of rain, all that loose dust and sand is kicked up and suspended in the air courtesy of gusty outflow winds generated by distant monsoon thunderstorms.  The resulting wall of dust can then travel 100 miles in distance and be 50 miles in length," CBS Phoenix affiliate KPHO says. "As far as the term 'haboob,' it's derived from the Arabic word 'habb,' which means 'wind.'"

No injuries from the dust storm were reported by Phoenix media.

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