Sandstorm roars through the Middle East — in pictures

Cairo during a sandstorm. Asmaa Waguih / Reuters

A man and a woman ride on a motorcycle over a bridge in Cairo. Asmaa Waguih / Reuters

Egypt’s Cairo International Airport was briefly closed to arrivals late Tuesday. Hassan Ammar / AP Photo

An Egyptian couple walk seek shelter under a bridge during the sandstorm. Hassan Ammar / AP Photo

Egyptian fishermen on the Nile. Hassan Ammar / AP Photo

A mosque’s minaret through the haze. Hassan Ammar / AP Photo

An Egyptian man covers his face. Hassan Ammar / AP Photo

Cairo during the sand storm. Mohamed Abd El Ghany / Reuters

A man walks on the promenade near the Nile. Mohamed Abd El Ghany / Reuters

Lebanese workers repair a section of Beirut's corniche which was damaged by strong and high waves. Hussein Malla / AP Photo

Seagulls fly over waves during a stormy weather off the shore of the Beirut. Joseph Eid / AFP Photo

Waves hit fishing boats in Beirut. Hussein Malla / AP Photo

The Middle East is being hit with a storm that has brought heavy winds, rain and snow to Lebanon's mountains. Hussein Malla / AP Photo

A sandstorm roared through the Levant on Wednesday, sending powerful waves tearing into Beirut’s famed Corniche along the Mediterranean Sea.

The sandstorm, made up of accumulated dust carried from the far reaches of the Sahara Desert in North Africa, also engulfed Cairo for a second day. High winds lashed those on the streets, causing some to walk In Beirut, strong waves broke fences, tiles and tore away part of its corniche overlooking the Mediterranean. The storm also brought heavy winds, rain and snow to the mountains. Lebanese weather forecasters said the wind reached speeds of 100 kilometres per hour.

On Tuesday, the strong sandstorm first reached Egypt, temporarily closing Cairo International Airport to incoming flights. The weather front also caused strong waves to crash into the coast and saw Egypt close two of its seaports.

The sandstorm hit Egypt after unusually warm and sunny weather for a February day. Such sandstorms are common in Egypt this time of year.