Dozens of drivers were trapped on a motorway when a severe sandstorm made it impossible to see the way ahead and forced them to a halt.

The storm, which hit the Xinjiang Region of northern China, was said to be the worst sandstorm the country has experienced in 20 years.

The region was battered by strong winds and heavy snowfall, accompanied by temperatures as low as -20 degrees Celsius prior to the freak weather event on February 17.

The sandstorm quickly progressed, and it prompted the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Meteorological Observatory to issue an orange warning signal at 1:28 pm on February 17.

In addition, the Shanshan County Meteorological Observatory issued a red warning signal for the storm later that evening.

It was expected that from the night of February 17 to the daytime of February 18, many areas would experience an extreme sandstorm with visibility of fewer than 50 metres (164 feet).

Many said that it was the most terrifying sandstorm they had ever seen in their lives, and it lasted for more than half an hour.

One video filmed on a motorway during the storm shows numerous cars positioned with their rear ends facing the direction of the wind.

Another clip filmed by a resident shows what appears to be their garage leading into the yard covered in sand that had shrouded the area and blocked any sunlight.

A third video captured outside in the street shows the sky covered in thick, reddish hues. Buildings and other people outside were barely visible in the orange-coloured background, making the scene look like something more out of a sci-fi movie than real life.

On February 18, several travelers who had returned to Xinjiang from various parts of the country told local media that they encountered harsh weather on the road.

Some were stranded at service areas for two days, while others chose to stay in hotels in nearby cities, patiently waiting for the weather to improve before continuing their journey.

However, some vehicle owners could not escape the strong winds carrying sand and stones. The windows of their vehicles were shattered.

Fortunately, the highway service areas had police officers providing tape and cardboard for emergency repairs.

Some vehicle owners used blankets to cover the broken windows, ensuring a safe arrival at their destinations.

Mr Chen, who drove from Tangshan, Hebei, to Tumxuk in Xinjiang, said that after arriving at the Mazongshan service area in Gansu, many vehicles entered the service area to rest and wait due to snowy and windy weather.

Chen, who joined the first group of vehicles leaving the highway, said: 'The traffic police used a loudspeaker to communicate with us, asking us to leave the highway, turn on our hazard lights, and maintain a safe distance.

'When we reached Mazongshan Town, it was -20°C outside. The town's hotels were limited, so the local government temporarily used the government service building as a shelter, providing military coats, blankets, and other supplies.

'The halls and corridors from the first to the third floors were filled with people resting on the spot.'

Mr Chen, driving a 50-tonne lorry from Ningxia to Yili in Xinjiang, also encountered a severe storm while on the road.

He said: 'Strong wind was blowing from the side of the expressway.

'Ourlorry was shaking violently, and it was challenging to control the steering wheel.

'There were also many sand and stones in the wind.

'The windows of some small cars next to us were shattered by the sand and stones, and some cars even had their rear windshields broken.'

Mr Liu said that his friend, passing through the same section, had the windows of his SUV shattered by sand and stones in the strong wind.

He added: 'They saw online that when others passed through this section, their car windows were shattered by sand and stones in the wind.

'So, they prepared tape and cardboard in advance, and it turned out to be useful.'

On February 19, the storm gradually weakened in most areas, but some regions still experienced blowing sand or dust, reports said.