Massive Haboob Dust Storm Hits Phoenix, Causes Power Outages and Damage at Sky Harbor Airport

Phoenix encountered a meteorological phenomenon known as a haboob on Monday evening, which engulfed parts of the city, causing near-zero visibility, downed trees, wind damage, and widespread power outages. The storm was swiftly followed by severe thunderstorms that ravaged the city, including Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, where a connector bridge was dismantled by 70 mph wind gusts.

The National Weather Service in Phoenix issued both dust storm and severe thunderstorm alerts as the system moved into Maricopa County on Monday evening. Drivers were warned of near-zero visibility and advised to “pull aside stay alive.”

In the aftermath, over 60,000 customers across Arizona faced power outages, with most incidents concentrated in Maricopa County, according to PowerOutage.us.

For approximately an hour, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport enforced a ground stop, halting any departures or arrivals as a cloud of dust appeared poised to engulf the facility. The airport experienced delays of up to 30 minutes late on Monday night while crews evaluated any damage or roof leaks, airport spokesperson Gregory E. Roybal confirmed.

Dust storms are common during Arizona’s monsoon season, but Thursday’s storm carried an added intensity. A thunderstorm collapsed, and its winds propelled outward, scooping up desert soil and forming a rolling wall of dust. These walls can ascend thousands of feet high and extend for miles, obscuring the horizon in seconds, much like a blizzard in winter.

A haboob’s wall of dust can be noticed from afar but by the time it arrives, it is too late to find shelter – especially if you are driving. In the worst of these storms, visibility is severely limited, as the dust obstructs light, making it nearly impossible to see more than a few feet ahead.

This monsoon pattern is not yet over, and the triple-digit heat persists. Phoenix received just under a quarter inch of rain from these storms on Monday, and the region has a continued chance of thunderstorms from Tuesday through Wednesday before the threat diminishes for the latter half of the week. The temperature will rise throughout the week, but dry air will inhibit the potential for late-week thunderstorms.

This is an evolving story and will be updated.