Massive Haboob Dust Storm Hits Phoenix, Causes Power Outages and Airport Delays
A colossal dust cloud, meteorologically termed as a haboob, engulfed parts of Phoenix on Monday evening, drastically reducing visibility to near-zero levels. The event was swiftly followed by severe thunderstorms that ravaged the city, leading to downed trees, wind damage, and extensive power outages. A connector bridge at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport was dismantled by 70 mph wind gusts.
The National Weather Service in Phoenix issued both dust storm and severe thunderstorm advisories as the system moved into Maricopa County on Monday evening. The weather service cautioned drivers about dangerously low visibility and advised them to “pull aside stay alive.”
The Arizona Department of Transportation concurred with this warning, reporting significantly reduced visibility on I-10 and I-17 due to the dust storm and flooding on roadways, urging drivers to exercise caution.
Post-storm, over 60,000 customers in Arizona experienced power outages, with most of the disruptions occurring in Maricopa County, according to PowerOutage.us.
For approximately an hour, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport imposed a ground stop, preventing any planes from taking off or landing as a cloud of dust seemed poised to envelop the facility. The airport faced up to 30-minute delays late Monday night while crews evaluated any damage or roof leaks, airport spokesperson Gregory E. Roybal confirmed.
In Gilbert, Arizona, about 22 miles southeast of Phoenix, there were “traffic light outages and fallen trees throughout town,” police reported, urging residents to avoid travel due to hazardous conditions.
Dust storms are not uncommon during Arizona’s monsoon season; however, this one packed a stronger punch. A thunderstorm collapsed, causing its winds to fan outwards and sweep up desert soil, forming a rolling wall of dust known as a haboob. These walls can rise thousands of feet high and stretch for miles, obliterating the horizon in seconds, much like a winter blizzard.
While a haboob’s dust cloud can be seen from afar, by the time it reaches you, it’s often too late to seek shelter—especially if you’re driving. In the worst of these storms, visibility is severely limited, with light being almost completely choked out due to the dense dust.
The haboob in Phoenix occurred following a weekend dust storm in Nevada that swept through Burning Man, an annual arts gathering in Black Rock City, approximately 120 miles from Reno. As attendees began arriving at the remote desert location on Saturday, strong thunderstorm winds stirred up a dust plume, closing access roads and forcing vendors to secure their tents.
“We had to take our sign down. We weren’t expecting that,” vendor Mike Chuda told CNN affiliate KTVN. “The wind was in such a perfect angle that it was bending our booth forward. So that was pretty wild.”
The Southwest monsoon pattern is not fully concluded, and the region can expect temperatures to remain in the triple digits. Phoenix received just under a quarter inch of rain with these storms on Monday, and there is a continued chance of thunderstorms on Tuesday and Wednesday before the threat subsides for the remainder of the week. The heat will escalate throughout the week, but dry air will inhibit the potential for late-week thunderstorms.
This information has been updated with additional details.