A powerful storm unleashed a towering wall of dust over Phoenix, Arizona, on Monday afternoon, causing widespread disruptions and dangerous conditions throughout the city. The rolling haboob engulfing the metro area created an uncanny sight, as the storm darkened the sky and blinded drivers. This formidable storm left tens of thousands without power and created extensive delays at one of the country’s busiest airports.
The ferocity of the dust storm could be seen as it flattened bird feeders and bent every angle of the trees. After that first cloud of dust, heavy wind and rain came in fast. This was on top of the already difficult circumstances that residents of the region were living in. The storm ravaged Maricopa County and its residents. Hundreds of thousands of customers lost power due to the polar vortex’s effects.
Bernae Boykin Hitesman was one of those ensnared in the tumult. She had just picked her son and daughter up from school when the storm struck Arizona City.
“My kids were really, really scared, so I was trying to be brave for them,” – Bernae Boykin Hitesman
The dust storm was so bad that it impacted operations at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, creating near zero visibility along the roads. This caused extensive flight delays, and some airport infrastructure suffered severe damage. Witnesses documented a massive wall of dust heading towards the airport moments before the storm hit.
Local resident Richard Filley expressed his relief when the winds finally died down.
“The windstorm part of it, I’m glad it’s gone,” – Richard Filley
Both Filley and Darnell focused on the dust storm’s aesthetic shock, sharing that this rare occurrence was almost beautiful, even as it presented danger.
“You look at the photos of haboobs and they are a spectacular natural phenomenon. They are kind of beautiful in their own way,” – Richard Filley
That’s up from a 20% chance just this morning, the metro Phoenix forecast now predicts a 40% chance of rain on Tuesday. This provides some hope for relief from the dry conditions that have characterized much of this monsoon season. Parts of southeast and north-central Arizona have already absorbed a significant dose of moisture. Phoenix has remained much drier than average this fall.