Sandstorm in NW China

A heavy sandstorm hit Jiuquan and Jiayu Pass areas in northwest China's Gansu Province Monday night, with the visibility in the affected areas declining to 200 meters. The sandstorm with strong wind suddenly hit the aforementioned areas at 9:20 p.m. Monday. Xu Dianxiang, an official with the Jiuquan Meteorological Station, said that sandstorm is rarely seen in the current season and he attributed the sandstorm to dry weather and high temperature over the past two weeks. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-07/13/content_347712.htm