Definition
Strong winds lifting large quantities of sand into the air, reducing surface and low-level visibility, often to less than three miles. SIGMETs are issued for widespread sandstorms because they create hazardous flight conditions and can damage aircraft surfaces, windscreens, and engines.
Plain English
Wind picking up sand and blowing it through the air in such quantity that you cannot see far through it.
Context Anchor
Seen in SIGMETs, weather briefings, and route planning for dry or desert areas where wind can pick up loose sand.
Derivation
“Sand” and “storm” both come from old English words meaning sand and violent weather. The combined word is useful because it points to the hazard directly: this is not just wind, but wind carrying sand.
Why Pilots Care
Sandstorms force route changes or groundings because they create near-zero visibility and risk engine failure from ingested grit.
Grounding Statement
Picture a wall of windblown sand moving across an airport and making the runway hard to see.
Intuition Check
Do not treat a sandstorm as just a dirty or uncomfortable wind. In aviation, the key issue is whether blowing sand reduces visibility enough to make flight hazardous.
Example Sentence 1
A SIGMET was issued for widespread sandstorms across the southwestern desert, with surface visibility dropping below two miles.
Example Sentence 2
Before takeoff the pilot reviewed METARs for any sandstorms that would drop visibility below VFR limits.