A sandstorm packing winds of up to 70 mph blasted through Rawlins, Wyo., last Friday, smashing windows and damaging at least 35 cars.

The brief storm rapidly accelerated to hurricane force and caused temperatures to plummet 20 degrees in less than 30 minutes. Witnesses reported that the storm began with a spinning cloud that many feared would turn into a tornado.

An owner of two car dealerships in the city said that rocks and swirling debris had caused at least $80,000 in damage to his vehicles.