Severe dust storm engulfs Ouargla, Algeria, reducing visibility to near zero
Strong winds and dense sand clouds struck Ouargla, Algeria, on May 14, 2025, reducing visibility to near zero, halting traffic, and forcing road closures.
Dust storm in Ouargla, Algeria on May 14, 2025. Credit: Arab_Storms
A severe dust storm enveloped Ouargla, Algeria, at approximately 13:30 local time (LT) on Wednesday, May 14, turning the early afternoon sky into a deep red and reducing visibility to near-zero. Local reports described the scene as apocalyptic, with dense clouds of sand and dust rapidly covering the region.
The storm was fueled by strong winds exceeding 70 km/h (43 mph) and extended from Ouargla city to Hassi Messaoud and surrounding areas.
ورقلة اليوم – #الجزائر سبحان الله
— طقس_العالم (@Arab_Storms) May 14, 2025
عاصفة غبارية
14-5-2025
Algeria pic.twitter.com/Qol9sDsEbb
As a result, traffic came to a standstill, and National Road No. 53A, connecting Borma and Hassi Messaoud,was closed.
Algeria’s Office National de Météorologie issued a Special Weather Bulletin on Tuesday. It placed Ouargla under an “Orange” vigilance level for strong winds and sandstorms, forecasting wind speeds up to 70 km/h (43 mph).
References:
1 Des vents forts à partir de mercredi sur plusieurs wilayas du sud du pays – Algérie Presse Service – May 13, 2025
2 Maltempo Algeria, tempesta di sabbia a Ouargla – Video – Meteo.it – May 15, 2025
Reet is a science journalist and researcher with a keen focus on extreme weather, space phenomena, and climate-related issues. With a strong foundation in astronomy and a history of environmental activism, she approaches every story with a sharp scientific lens and a deep sense of purpose. Driven by a lifelong love for writing, and a curiosity about the universe, Reet brings urgency and insight to some of the most important scientific developments of our time.
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