A dust storm embraced south and central parts of Tajikistan on September 23.  Meteorologists say a dust haze will hold till September 25.   

A dust storm embraced the majority districts of Tajikistan on September 23 and visibility on roads during the dust haze that will hold in the south and central parts of the country till September 25 will be 200-700 meters, according to the Hydrometeorology Agency (Hydromet).  

Hydromet says the weather in Dushanbe within the next few days will be cloudy and hazy.  Nighttime temperatures will be from +11ºC to +13ºC and daytime temperatures are expected to fluctuate from +33ºC to +35ºC.

In the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO), the weather will be partly cloudy within the next few days; no precipitation is expected.  In the western part of GBAO, nighttime temperatures are from +7ºC to +12ºC and daytime temperatures are expected to fluctuate from +26ºC to +31ºC.  In the eastern part of GBAO, nighttime temperatures are from -1ºC to -6ºC and daytime temperatures will fluctuate from +14ºC to +19ºC.

In Khatlon and Sughd provinces as well as in districts subordinate to the center, the weather will be partly cloudy and hazy in some areas within the next few days; no precipitation is expected.  In plains, nighttime temperatures are expected to fluctuate from +10ºC to +15ºC and daytime temperatures will be from +31ºC to +36ºC.  In mountain areas, nighttime temperatures will fluctuate from +6ºC to +11ºC and daytime temperatures are expected to fluctuate from 25ºC to +30ºC. 

A dust storm, also called sandstorm, is a meteorological phenomenon common in arid and semi-arid regions.  Dust storms arise when a gust front or other strong wind blows loose sand and dirt from a dry surface.