Bakersfield, United States - November 12, 2024 A rare and dangerous dust storm, known as a haboob, swept through California’s Central Valley Monday afternoon, leading to a multi-vehicle pileup on California 99 and power outages affecting 15,000 Fresno County residents. The storm, which lasted from 1:30 to 4 p.m., caused high winds and a massive dust cloud that reduced visibility and left several people injured in the accident. The storm, fueled by unusually dry conditions and a low-pressure system, stirred up dust across the valley, with Madera recording a gust of 49 mph. Meteorologist Emily Wilson from the National Weather Service in Hanford explained that the lack of rain in recent months contributed to the dust's mobility. In addition to the crash and power outages, video footage from UC San Diego’s ALERTCalifornia shows the storm engulfing a camera east of Delano, highlighting the intensity of the event.