A South American country hit by an impressive sand and dust storm

Steph Deschamps / August 15, 2025

Strong winds caused by a high-pressure system over the Pacific Ocean buried four coastal regions in southern Peru under an unusually large dust and sand storm on Thursday, according to Peru's national meteorological service (Senamhi).

This unusual phenomenon mainly affected the Ica region, about 400 km south of Lima, where sand and dust whipped up by winds of up to 50 km/h brought road traffic and tourist activities to a standstill for three hours.

Disruptions were also reported in the regions of Arequipa, Moquegua, and Tacna, as well as in the capital city of Lima.

“This phenomenon is caused by the South Pacific anticyclone, which has intensified and is very close to the continent, generating high-speed downdrafts at the surface,” explained Rosario Julca, an expert at Senamhi, to the television channel Canal N.

“The presence of these downdrafts, combined with the desert surface, caused a sudden and significant dust storm,” she added.

According to her, moderate to strong winds will continue to blow along the Peruvian coast until Sunday.

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A South American country hit by an impressive sand and dust storm

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