Into the Haboob

Picture courtesy of Eliza from the backseat

On our way home from the homeschool convention last weekend, we were warned of a major dust storm.  I've seen the dust storms from the windows in our house, but never really walked in them, or drove in them.  When we walked out of the convention center, I was so grateful for my sunglasses ... dust was flying everywhere!

But, that was the least of my worries.  We got in my car and started to drive out of the city, hoping to stay a little bit ahead of the storm.  It was traveling west, the same direction we were going.  I kept looking out the window and thinking that we would make it.  That is, until we exited the major highway onto a state highway that was under construction.

After driving for about three miles, our visibility was a few yards in front of the car.  We continued to creep along at about 25-30 mph.  Sometimes the dust cloud would dissipate for a short time and I would speed up in the hopes that it would help us get home sooner and out of the storm.  But, then we would plunge right back in.

I've driven in heavy fog before, and this was similar enough to make me feel comfortable at first, but shortly after, it was different enough that I was nervous and shaking the entire drive.  When driving in fog, your headlights reflect off of it.  When driving in a dust storm, everything is absorbed.  Only the display on my dashboard let me know that my lights were on.

Picture courtesy of my friend

There were cars stopped on the side of the road.  My friend, who is a native Arizonan and riding in the car with me, told me that it was during this kind of dust storm that we should stop on the side of the road.  Being the stubborn mule that I am, I continued to drive .... after all, I had somewhere to be (I was going to a friend's house for dinner with my family after I got home).

When we got about 5 feet before the intersection where I would normally turn, I couldn't even see the traffic light.  I inched forward hoping the light was green and started to turn.  As I was turning, I finally saw that yes, my light was green.  I only hoped that the cross traffic could see their red light.  I turned onto the surface street and almost immediately lost all visibility.  I couldn't even see the lines on the road to know if I was still in the lane or off the side.  My friend guided me to the side of the road; apparently she could see the line there, or something.  There was dust everywhere!  I could only see half of the hood of my car.  It was extremely terrifying to just sit there and pray that other cars wouldn't come by and hit us.

After about two minutes of sitting and waiting, the dust cloud moved on and we regained our sight enough to get moving again.  I was so frightened that I was shaking for a good hour after we got home.

And, so my friends, here's the moral of the story:

When the weather service sends out a warning not to drive into the haboob ... do exactly as they say.

(In case you are wondering, "haboob" is the technical term the weather forecasters use for the dust cloud phenomenom that reminds me of nuclear mushroom clouds.)