English: A massive dust storm covered much of Libya in mid-March 2017. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard NASA’s Aqua satellite captured this true-color image on March 17.

Strong wind lofted dust and sand into the atmosphere from sand seas found in the interior of the country and pushed the tan cloud hundreds of kilometers north and northwestward into the Mediterranean Sea. The eastern edge of the dust storm rolls across the border and covers part of Egypt. The storm is so intensely thick that it hides not only much of the landscape but also the blue waters of the Gulf of Sidra from view.

Dust storms are one of the most frequent national hazards in Libya. A relatively mild Mediterranean climate predominates along the coast but vast sand seas sprawl over the arid interior. The sand seas provide copious materials for dust storms, especially in spring and fall when strong, hot, dry winds can last up to four days.