14 March 2014
NWS Use of the Word Haboob Sets off Firestorm In West Texas
Posted by Dan Satterfield
A haboob is a type of severe dust storm. The word has been in common use for at least 60 years, and it dates back to the 1920’s in the Sudan. The word itself is Arabic in origin, and the American Meteorological Society atmospheric science dictionary defines it thus:
haboob
(Many variant spellings, including habbub, habub, haboub, hubbob, hubbub.) A strong wind and sandstorm or duststorm in northern and central Sudan, especially around Khartoum, where the average number is about 24 a year.
Sutton, L. J. 1925. Haboobs. Quart. J. Roy. Meteor. Soc.. 51. 25–30.
The rest of this rather sad story started when the NWS warned Lubbock residents that a haboob was approaching (and by the way, it was a doozy).
When the meteorologist for Lubbock TV station posted the NWS warning on the station’s Facebook page(see below), he set off a firestorm, not a Haboob.
Warning: The image below links to the KCBD Facebook page and most of my readers will consider some of the comments to be very offensive (if not worse).
I am not going to print the comments here (They would be considered very offensive, or worse by most people), but suffice it to say there were many complaints about using an Arabic word for a Texas weather event (When you quit laughing, read on). The station later interviewed Jody James, the Warning Coordination Meteorologist for the NWS, who patiently explained that this term has been in common use around the world since at least 1951. He also pointed out the Arabic origin of many English words like Algebra, etc. (Most of the brighter stars in the sky have Arabic names because early Arabic astronomers named them).
There was no mention in the article of the melt down on the station Facebook page, (or the demands for a station employee to be fired). I can assure you that scientists and the NWS will continue to use scientific terms, no matter what their origin, even the Spanish word “TORNADO!”
It will be interesting to see if KCBD in Lubbock will, and I can’t help but wonder how some of those folks in Lubbock feel about The Weather Channel naming the last winter storm VULCAN??
I’ll pass on that mind meld..
Now that they know “algebra” is an Arabic word, they’ll pass legislation so it isn’t taught in schools. They’ve already sent precedent by trying to keep out subjects like evolution and climate change.
Funny you should mention this. In January of this year Texas dropped Algebra II as a graduation requirement.
http://americanlivewire.com/2014-01-25-2014-01-25-texas-drops-algebra-ii-graduation-requirement/
It makes one wonder what other requirements they will drop. It also really begs the question to be asked why IT companies and other high tech businesses are rushing to locate to Texas. Overall, their k-12 schools have had a reputation of poorly educating students since the 1970s.
What do you expect when so many people, not just Texans, have their heads stuck in the sand(storm)? But it seems a little unfair to use a word with which few are familiar, and especially an Arabic one at that, without a little explanation. Even weather forecasts can/should be used for education. As in, “A major dust storm is on the way, officially known by its Arabic name ‘Haboob’ throughout the world.” A lot of people could have fun with that.
Meanwhile, folks, a frog-strangler is on its way and it’s going to be raining Buicks.
They probably objected while sipping “alcohol” on their “sofas” inside their “adobe” homes…
But the definition says “A strong. . .duststorm in northern and central Sudan.” So is it valid to use the term for non-Sudanese events? I realize that’s not the point of this post, but if someone said to me “this is one hell of a sirocco” I’d have to explain that sirocco is a very specific Mediterranean phenomenon and does not just mean wind.
The origin of the word is from the Sudan but it is used worldwide. The AMS glossary shoes the origin.
Just wait until they find out about arabic numerals!
Texas should ban Arabic numerals.
How could they do algebra anyway without using Arabic numerals? 🙂 I assume these mouth-breathers will demand the return of good ol’ Latin numerals rather than using those horrid, possibly extremist numbers – 1, 2, 3, etc – given to the world by them thar Muslamic Ayrabs (who now use numerals of Indian origin).
There is no need for the weather report to use words that are unknown or not understood by most of the population it is serving. So what next ? Are you going to us the Greek word for rain, the Latin word for Cold, or Russian word for hot, or how about the always popular Chinese word for hale.
Haboob is a commonly used term in the SW U.S. and it has a specific definition. Accuracy is important in science and especially in a forecast. I have many times used a term on air that may not be common, and a perfect example is a derecho which until two years ago most folks had never heard of. Educating the public is a significant part of any on air weathercaster’s job. Here in the east, if I say we may see a derecho, folks now know what exactly that means.
LOL !!!
Careful with that educating the public stuff Mr.Dan . Once they learn all you have to offer you will probably end up in the cooking pot at their next tailgate party.
Yeah words like el nino or la nina, should be replaced by good old English names like some like it hot or cold. The dumbing down of America.
Don’t mezza w/ Texas!
In Texas, ignorance is considered a virtue.
I’m seeing just as much ignorance in the replies by people who probably consider themselves “educated” here as there are in the blind rage over the word on the fb page. So, a handful of folks who like to stir things up on social media can get a hadnful of other people to over-generalize a whole state! “Scientists” at their worst. Well done.
~ Andrew (A proud Native Texan and geophysicist)
I did go and read the article on the ‘dropping’ of Algebra II’ and found that yes, Texas dropped the requirement after being the first state to require it to begin with. Most states do not require it. Again, I guess the poster of that link has reading comprehension problems as well.
Well Its kind of rare to so a haboob but not that much. i don’t get that many in New Zealand