Some Texans are outraged over the use of an Arabic weather term

Before a dust storm hit a Texas town, the National Weather Service sent out a warning on its Facebook page: "A haboob is rapidly approaching the Lubbock airport and may affect the city as well."

The warning quickly prompted comments from people who were outraged at the use of the Arabic word "haboob."

Brenda Daffern wrote: "In Texas, nimrod, this is called a sandstorm. We've had them for years! If you would like to move to the Middle East you can call this a haboob. While you reside here, call it a sandstorm. We Texans will appreciate you."

Another woman named Sharla Southerland Hamil chimed in: "In over 50 yrs of my life that had been a sand storm. We live in Texas which is in the US not the middle east."

See incredible photos of Arizona haboobs:

Despite these comments and others like it, the use of the term on the Facebook post was completely correct. Haboobs are dust storms caused by downward flowing winds and outward from thunderstorms.

According to the Weather Channel, "The word haboob comes from parts of the world where dust storms are common: the Middle East and northern Africa. According to the American Meteorological Society glossary, the term is derived from the Arabic word habb, which means wind."

But not everyone was frustrated by the use of the word. Some Facebook users were quick to defend the post.

James Gunnels wrote: "The stupidity of some people is just absolutely blinding. Yes, you can call this a sand/dust storm all you wish, but the correct term is and always will be, a Haboob. It seems to me that those who are spewing their racial hatred and bigotry over a simple word such as this, need to return to grade school and become reincorporated into society as respectful human beings."