Videos and photos of a sudden haze and blowing dust near the Senate building and SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City drew attention online on Wednesday, Aug. 26, after some people called it a “sandstorm.”

However, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said it was not a sandstorm.

PAGASA weather specialist Loriedin dela Cruz-Galicia explained that the brief haze was likely caused by strong winds from an approaching thunderstorm associated with the southwest monsoon or “habagat.”

She said a sandstorm is a more persistent phenomenon, while the incident near Manila Bay was localized and short-lived.

“So nataon lang po siguro na may approaching thunderstorm. Tapos yung dust naman po, or yung mga nakita po na nag-cause ng haze or ng reduced visibility, galing din po sa around the area of Manila Bay (It just happened that there was an approaching thunderstorm. Then the dust, or what caused the haze or reduced visibility that was seen, also came from around the Manila Bay area),” she said.

Dela Cruz-Galicia added that visibility improved shortly after the strong winds subsided.

She said similar bursts of strong winds may occur as thunderstorms continue to develop under the prevailing habagat.

“Wala po talagang monsoon break, so ang hanging habagat natin continuous yan until almost the end of the month. So let's expect na may mga thunderstorms from time to time, may mga pag-ulan o biglaang pag-ulan (There really is no monsoon break, so the habagat will continue until almost the end of the month. We can expect thunderstorms from time to time, as well as rainfall or sudden rain),” Dela Cruz-Galicia said.

If wind gusts accompanied by dust occur again, she urged motorists to exercise caution and advised residents in affected areas to wear masks when the air becomes hazy to avoid inhaling small particles.