The woman and her husband were watching an especially violent type of dust storm Adust storm is a kind of storm where wind picks up clouds of sand and dust from the desert and blows them into the air Phoenix is built in the middle of the Sonoran Desert It gets several dust storms every year Most of the dust storms are very small, but some of them are very big A large, thick dust storm hit Phoenix in 2011. It was more than a mile tall and 50 miles wide severe dust storms can last for up t three hours. These dust storms happen in other countries too. Countries in the northern part of Africa can get very violent dust storms that last a long time. If this type of dust storm strikes near a farm, it can cover the farm with dust and sand. This means the farmer can no longer plant crops. Often the farm must be abandoned. Dust storms can be very dangerous. When a dust storm hits, it makes it difficult to see If you are outside during a dust storm, you may not be able to see more than a few inches in front of you when ust storm Phoenix, the local weather stations start broadcasting warnings for people to is approaching et off the street. People are told to park their cars, so they don't crash Airplanes a not allowed to take cannot see well