WASHINGTON The White House says Michelle Obama is heading home after being grounded by bad weather in the Middle East.
The U.S. first lady was supposed to be in Amman, Jordan, on Thursday to tour a school built with U.S. aid and address Jordanian and Syrian girls who attend class there.
But a thick sandstorm that cloaked parts of the Middle East on Wednesday delayed her departure from Doha, Qatar, where she addressed an international education conference.
The White House says Thursday that, after 36 hours of waiting for the weather to clear up, a decision was made to return to Washington.
Mrs. Obama went to the Middle East to promote her education initiative for adolescent girls.
She had been due back in Washington on Saturday.