Ask anything under the sun!

What is a sandstorm?

Well, little buddy, a sandstorm is kind of like a big, messy party that the wind throws with lots and lots of sand. Imagine you and your friends are playing with toy trucks and you start to drive them really fast. The trucks kick up all the dust and dirt from the ground, right? Now imagine if your toy trucks were as big as the wind, and instead of your playground, they were in a desert full of sand. That's what a sandstorm is!

In more grown-up terms, a sandstorm happens when strong winds in deserts lift up lots of sand into the air. This creates a cloud of dust that can be so thick it blocks out the sun! It's like wearing sunglasses indoors - everything gets really dark. These storms can be quite dangerous because they make it hard to see and breathe.

But don't worry too much! Sandstorms mostly happen in very sandy places like deserts. So unless you're planning on building sandcastles in the Sahara Desert anytime soon, you should be fine. And remember, if you ever find yourself in a sandstorm, the best thing to do is to cover your nose and mouth with something (like your shirt) to keep from breathing in any dust.