Herat has lived with the 120-day winds for years. These winds are part of the natural climate of the Sistan region and western Afghanistan, blowing from late spring through summer and into early autumn. But the problem is not the wind itself. When the land dries up, groundwater levels fall and vegetation disappears, dry riverbeds, wetlands and abandoned land are exposed to the wind. The same wind that was once simply a natural climate phenomenon can then lift soil and carry dust.
Scientific studies of the Sistan region show that the wind known as the “Lewar,” or 120-day wind, is most active from mid-May to mid-September. It forms because of the difference in air pressure between the mountainous areas of northern Afghanistan and the hot, dry areas of southern and western Afghanistan and eastern Iran. The region’s topography also increases its speed.
A 41-year study at the Zabul Station estimated that the average duration of this period was about 135 days, with considerable variation from year to year. Therefore, the question today is not only how many days the wind blows; it is how vulnerable the land has become to these winds.
The answer can be seen in dry land, damaged orchards, moving sand, and in the eyes and lungs of Herat’s residents. Strong winds, dryness, a lack of vegetation and unprotected lands, when combined, create favorable conditions for dust storms.
Studies of the Sistan region show that reduced rainfall, increased dryness and declining vegetation are linked to increased dust activity. The dried beds of the Hamoun wetlands have also become an important source of dust in the region. A study based on 23 years of data from Sistan found that dust activity was highest in June, July and August, with wind speed, rainfall and vegetation among the main factors affecting its intensity.
In other words, this is not only a weather problem; the situation of the land also plays a role in making it more severe. This is particularly important for western Afghanistan because Herat is located near the same climate system. Consecutive droughts, declining water resources and the destruction of vegetation can make the land even more vulnerable.
In Herat’s districts, these changes are not visible only in climate charts; farmers experience them in their own fields. Faraidon, a farmer from Ziyarat-Jah village, says strong winds, along with a shortage of water, have posed serious problems for agricultural land.
“These winds that are blowing now are causing a lot of damage to agriculture. There is very little water. Today you water the land, and by tomorrow it is dry again. The winds quickly dry out the land, leave it thirsty, and damage the soil. This year, the 120-day winds came with extreme heat and damaged our crops, especially our grape orchards,” he says.
He also describes a sharp decline in crop yields: “Compared with last year, 80 percent of our crops were completely damaged this year, and we were able to utilize only 20 percent of our fields. In previous years, if agricultural pests damaged 20 to 30 percent of our crops, this year the damage has increased by more than 40 percent. Insects and wheat sunn pests (kafshak) have spread because of these dry and continuous winds. No matter how much pesticide and other medicines we used, we could not control them because the winds were much stronger and lasted much longer this year.”
These figures are based on a farmer’s account. Turning them into official or scientific statistics would require independent verification by the agriculture administration and supporting research references. However, this local account shows that the pressure from winds and dryness is not limited to climate charts; it directly affects families’ livelihoods.
Faraidon also talks about the health consequences of the winds: “When this dust blows, many health problems occur, including sore throats, dry coughs and lung diseases, because the dust remains suspended in the air. Most people cannot afford masks, or there is no culture of wearing masks among them.”
He adds that the distance from health centers also makes it difficult for rural families to access medical care.
In Ghoriyan district, the problem takes a different form. Here, the wind does not only remove moisture from the soil; it sometimes carries sand with it as well. Taha Kaihani, a resident of Kayan village in Ghoriyan, says,
“The 120-day winds have existed in this area for decades. Along the main road, the Islam Qala highway, people and previous governments planted trees both north and south of the river to prevent the wind and the movement of sand.”
He also recalls the experience of previous years: “In the past, the winds were so strong that, about five years ago, I remember people’s walls being buried under as much as four meters of soil and sand. It was the presence of these tree belts that reduced the dust storms.”
Kaihani’s account highlights an important point: vegetation can act as a natural shield against wind erosion. But this shield disappears when shrublands are destroyed.
“In recent years, some uninformed people, claiming that wild animals such as pigs had taken shelter in the forests and were damaging farmland, came and dried out and burned the trees to drive the animals away. This is a disastrous act,” he says.
He emphasizes that protecting vegetation should be a shared responsibility of people and the relevant authorities. He also talks about the damage caused by wind and dust to fruit orchards.
“Fruit trees are damaged by strong winds, and even trees that are several years old can be uprooted,” he adds.
What do dust storms put in the air?
When people talk about a “dust storm,” they mean a mixture of particles suspended in the air. The World Health Organization says dust and sandstorms can reduce air quality and are associated with an increased risk of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Smaller particles, particularly PM2.5, can penetrate deep into the lungs. The organization also emphasizes that both short- and long-term exposure to PM10 and PM2.5 can have respiratory and cardiovascular consequences.
Dust therefore does not affect everyone in the same way. Children, older people, and people with respiratory or cardiovascular diseases are more vulnerable to air pollution.
Abdul Naser Akhundzada, an ophthalmologist in Herat, says dust, suspended particles in the air and plant pollen can cause or worsen eye allergies.
“Dust itself, together with strong winds, suspended chemical particles in the air, and plant pollen, is among the main causes of eye allergies and irritation,” he says.
Redness, itching, burning and watery eyes are common symptoms. He warns about a common habit: “A very wrong and dangerous habit among people is rubbing their eyes with their hands to relieve the itching.”
According to him, particles and foreign objects entering the eyes, particularly while riding motorcycles and bicycles, can pose a serious risk. During the 120-day winds, he says, wearing a mask and suitable glasses while working or going outdoors is important.
Abdul Quddus Haidarian, an internal and respiratory medicine specialist, says the problem becomes more serious when dust combines with other sources of air pollution.
“When dry soil combines with other pollutants and a person inhales them, respiratory problems can become more serious,” he says.
According to him, dust particles can irritate the respiratory tract and cause coughing, increased phlegm, shortness of breath and worsening asthma attacks in sensitive people. On days when the 120-day winds raise dust, he says wearing a suitable mask is essential.
Herat’s experience shows that the response is not simply about building walls or trying to stop the wind. The solution must start with the land. The healthier the vegetation, the less exposed the soil is to wind erosion. The better water is managed, the less dry and vulnerable the land becomes. And the better the early-warning and public information systems are, the more time people have to protect themselves and their property.
The National Environmental Protection Agency of Afghanistan has recently emphasized restoring vegetation in Herat. The agency has announced that tens of thousands of saplings are being planted along the Herat–Islam Qala and Herat–Torghundi highways to restore vegetation and reduce the negative impacts of climate change.
Environmental officials in Herat consider planting drought-resistant species, including tamarisk and alhagi, as part of programs to cope with desertification. Hamed Elham, head of communications at the Herat Department of Environmental Protection, says,
“Herat is one of the provinces located directly in the path of the 120-day winds. Our main strategy for controlling desertification and reducing the intensity of the winds is to plant and expand plants suited to the dry climate, particularly tamarisk and alhagi trees.”
According to him, vegetation restoration programs are being carried out in different parts of Herat, and hundreds of thousands of resistant plants were planted last year in the border districts of Kohsan and Kushk Robat-e Sangi. He also mentions cooperation from international organizations on some sapling-planting projects.
But global experience in managing dust has a clear message: planting saplings alone cannot stop desertification without protecting them, ensuring sustainable irrigation, selecting suitable species and people’s participation.
From Herat to Antalya; Maseer Sabz’s message to COP31
This year, when representatives from countries around the world gather at COP31 in Antalya, Herat can be one of the voices of the world’s dry and vulnerable regions.
Herat’s message is not to stop the 120-day winds. These winds are part of the region’s natural climate. Herat’s message is this: help make the land more resilient to these winds.
Afghanistan needs more than short-term projects to address dust storms and the consequences of climate change. It needs sustained investment in climate adaptation.
The figures and claims made by farmers and residents are their personal accounts and are not official statistics. The scientific information in this report is based on research on the Sistan region, including data from Zabul Station and 23 years of research data, as well as information from the World Health Organization and the World Meteorological Organization and statements from Afghanistan’s National Environmental Protection Agency and the Herat Department of Environmental Protection.
Reporter: Nasir Keshawarz
A report from the “Maseer Sabz” program
References:
- Hamidianpour, M., et al. (2021). Climatology of the Sistan Levar Wind. Atmospheric Research, 260, 105711. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosres.2021.105711
- Miri, A., et al. (2021). Climatic and terrestrial drivers of dust storms in the Sistan region. Science of the Total Environment, 757, 143952. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143952
- Miri, A., et al. (2010). Dust storm frequency after the 1999 drought in the Sistan region. Climate Research, 41(1), 83–90. https://doi.org/10.3354/cr00840
- Namdari, S., et al. (2021). Analysis of factors related to dust storms in the Sistan region. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 28, 45450–45458. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-13922-6
- Dargahian, F., & Doostkamian, M. (2022). 120-Day Winds of Sistan and their Relationship with Dust and Wind Speed. Desert, 27(1). https://doi.org/10.22059/jdesert.2022.88509
- World Health Organization [WHO]. (2025). Understanding the Health Impacts of Sand and Dust Storms. Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal, 31(3). Technical Report.
- World Meteorological Organization [WMO]. (2025). WMO Airborne Dust Bulletin (No. 9). Geneva: WMO.
