Hollywood exaggerates Martian storms in a specific and measurable way: because Mars’s atmosphere is roughly 100 times thinner than Earth’s, a 60-mph gust would push an astronaut about as hard as a gentle 6-to-8-mph breeze on Earth.

Hollywood exaggerates Martian storms in a specific and measurable way: because Mars’s atmosphere is roughly 100 times thinner than Earth’s, a 60-mph gust would push an astronaut about as hard as a gentle 6-to-8-mph breeze on Earth.

Wind loading depends on air density and speed squared. In Mars's thin surface atmosphere, a 60 mph gust exerts roughly the same push as a 6-to-8 mph Earth breeze, while dust remains a serious hazard to power and machinery.