The term 'Like a Dust Bowl' refers to a period of severe dust storms in the 1930s, which caused major ecological and agricultural damage to the Great Plains region of the United States. The crossword solution for this term is ARID, which means 'extremely dry'. This accurately describes the conditions of the Great Plains during the Dust Bowl, as the lack of rainfall and over-farming of the land caused the soil to become dry and easily blown away by strong winds.