Unseasonable dust storm rolls through Gansu, China

A massive dust storm swept over China's northwestern province of Gansu on November 25, 2018, reducing visibility in some areas to just 100 m (330 feet). Dust storms here are expected during spring, not in winter.

Meteorologists said wind speed of around 17 m/s formed a 'sand wall' as high as 100 m (330 feet).

The storm hit Zhangye City around 16:00 local time, reducing minimum visibility to just 900 m (2 900 feet) and in some areas to 100 m.

"The dust storm reached when I was just walking out of my home so I ran back and stayed at home for the rest of the afternoon. I could not see anything through my window," one of the residents told Bloomberg News.

"Usually we have dust storm here in spring, not in winter," he said. "This is probably the worst dust storm I have seen in 10 years."

There were no reports of damage or casualties.