These winds were so fierce, the dust storm they whipped up over the Southwest could be seen from space.
The storm stretched from Sunday night into the early hours of Monday morning across Nevada's Mojave Desert.
Imagery from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) GOES-West satellite shows the dust racing southward, as smoke from the Brown and Twin wildfires released plumes of smoke.
As daytime fades to darkness, the lights of Las Vegas can be seen in the corner of the satellite imagery.
MASSIVE DUST STORM ENGULFS CAPITAL CITY OF NIGER, RESIDENTS DESCRIBE 'TERRIFYING' SIGHT
The dust storm was described as "particularly intense" by NOAA.
A dust storm can be seen racing across Nevada's Mojave Desert on June 28. (NOAA)
"These types of dust storms are known as haboobs, and occur in dry regions throughout the world," NOAA said on Tuesday. "The word itself is derived from the Arabic word, habb, which means 'to blow' or 'strong wind.'"
According to the World Meteorological Organization, dust storms usually occur when strong winds lift large amounts of sand and dust from bare, dry soils into the atmosphere. They are usually caused by thunderstorms.
Besides creating visibility issues and travel delays, the WMO said airborne dust also presents "serious risks" for health.
DUST STORM NEAR DUSTY, WASHINGTON CAUSES CRASH, SHUTS HIGHWAY FOR SEVERAL HOURS
Massive dust storm sweeps towards Niger's capital city
Raw video: Huge dust storm caught on camera rolling through Niamey, the capital city of Niger.
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), dust storms and haboobs can occur anywhere in the U.S. but are most common in the Southwest. They are a result of thunderstorm winds.
In the Southwest, these types of storms are "relatively common" during the North American Monsoon Season, which is an increased period of thunderstorms and rainfall from July through September.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE WEATHER COVERAGE FROM FOX NEWS
Dust storms present the biggest threat to motorists, as the advancing wall of dust and debris may be miles long and several thousand feet high. Since dust storms strike with little warning, they can make driving conditions especially hazardous.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP
"Blinding, choking dust can quickly reduce visibility, causing accidents that may involve chain collisions, creating massive pileups," according to the NWS. "Dust storms usually last only a few minutes, but the actions a motorist takes during the storm may be the most important of his or her life."
True Crime
The hottest stories ripped from the headlines, from crime to courts, legal and scandal.
By entering your email and clicking the Subscribe button, you agree to the Fox News Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, and agree to receive content and promotional communications from Fox News. You understand that you can opt-out at any time.
