A gigantic dust storm more than 200 miles long is blowing across the US and is being observed from SPACE

A destructive and epically proportioned dust storm, more than 200 miles (320 km) long, tore through New Mexico on Wednesday, sending up clouds of debris visible from space.

The extreme storm, which also extended into northern Mexico, hospitalized 18 motorists after rolling, opaque clouds caused multiple accidents on Interstate 25.

The massive dust wave that spawned the storm was captured in vivid color by a satellite operated jointly by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the State of Colorado’s Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA).

“Less than half a mile visibility southeast of Deming,” the National Weather Service office in El Paso warned residents near the state’s southern border as the storm continued.

High-speed winds of up to 90 miles per hour whipped through southern parts of the state, while the Albuquerque area was left with piles of icy hail from the storm — which also caused mudslides and flooding near New Mexico’s Sierra Blanca Mountains .

A massive and destructive dust storm more than 200 miles long swept through New Mexico on Wednesday, throwing clouds of debris into the sky that were visible from space — via satellite imagery maintained by Colorado State’s Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (above)

High-speed winds of up to 95 miles per hour tore through parts of southern New Mexico, while the Albuquerque area was left with piles of icy hail from the storm — which also caused mudslides and flooding near the state’s Sierra Blanca mountains.

This type of dust storm, caused by a change in air pressure after a heavy thunderstorm, is known among meteorologists as a “haboob,” from the Arabic word for “explosion.”

In the run-up to a developing thunderstorm, winds flow from all directions toward the cloud formation, but the curse breaks once the storm’s heavy rains begin to pour down.

Soon, an intense “crash,” a cold, dense outflow of air, loose soil, sand, dust, and debris pushes upward as it rushes out of the ongoing thunderstorm.

The resulting ‘haboob’ dust storm is which can blow these particles up to 1,500 meters into the air.

The resulting wall of small particles can not only obstruct vision, but also lead to health problems. The particles contain a mixture of fungi, pollutants, chemicals and more.

Haboobs can occur anywhere in the United States, but are most common in the Southwest.

They are also common in the Middle East and, in recent years, Australia, thanks to increasingly drier conditions on the continent as a result of global climate change.

But the New Mexico haboob surprised scientists Wednesday with its size and power, the Washington Postand the citizens were equally impressed.

A passenger on a plane photographed the approaching dust cloud from 30,000 feet above the state and posted a message on the social media site X: ‘Crazy to see a haboob from this vantage point’

One plane passenger photographed the advancing dust wall from 30,000 feet above the state and posted on social media: “Crazy seeing a haboob from this POV.”

UCLA climate scientist Dr. Daniel Swain attributed the storm’s ferocity to the climate change-intensified hurricane and tropical storm season, which began this month.

“Leftover moisture and spin from former Tropical Storm Alberto has brought a slew of unusual weather (early season rains, severe thunderstorms, flash flooding, and a large dust storm/haboob) to TX, NM, AZ, and northern MX over the past 3 days,” said Dr. Swain explained Friday.

Dr. Jonathan Overpeck, a climate change expert who won the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize for his role in leading the United Nations’ IPCC analysis of global warming, agreed, but added a dire prediction.

“As climate change dries out the US Southwest,” says Dr. Overpeck wrote‘huge dust storms will become more common.’