A surprising sand storm was recorded Thursday afternoon in the Ica region, where the sky became brown and visibility was completely reduced in districts such as Santiago, Parcona, Ocucaje, Pisco, Palpa and Nasca.
Although no personal or material damage has been reported so far, local authorities recommend avoiding outdoor activities, keeping closed doors and windows and protecting eyes and airways if you need to leave.
How do sand storms originate?
These meteorological phenomena occur more frequently in arid areas and dry weather. They are generated when intense winds lift loose soil particles, such as sand and dust, and transport them at high speed.
In regions such as Ica, where the vegetation is scarce and the soil is exposed, a strong burst is enough to trigger such a storm. In some cases, the arrival of cold air masses or the passage of atmospheric fronts intensify the winds and favor their formation.
The event recorded in Ica is part of an occasional pattern that can be repeated if the conditions of dryness, strong wind and lack of vegetation coverage persist. The authorities urge the population to follow official communications to possible replicas of the phenomenon in the next few days.
