Hey There, Haboob
As celebrations were cut short in Nevada, Arizona residents faced a dangerous commute Monday as a massive dust storm—known as a haboob—swept through the state, drastically reducing visibility and triggering severe weather.
The Arizona Department of Transportation warned drivers about near-zero visibility on major highways I-10 and I-17. The storm, fueled by intense downdrafts from thunderstorms, also caused flooding along roadways and widespread power outages. More than 60,000 customers lost electricity, especially in Maricopa County.
Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport was briefly placed under a ground stop after 70 mph wind gusts shredded a connector bridge and damaged a terminal roof, according to CNN and People. Delays continued into the evening.
Video footage from the Associated Press shows a woman in Arizona City driving through a cloud of thick dust while picking up her children from school. Haboobs can lift desert soil as high as 10,000 feet into the air, creating hazardous conditions across wide areas.
In Marana, high winds tore the roof off a building and toppled trees, FOX Weather reported. Despite Phoenix recording its second-wettest day of the year, the city received less than a quarter inch of rain. Arizona remains in a drought, with more storms and a risk of flash flooding expected later in the week.
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