A strong storm swept through metro Phoenix on Monday, generating a massive wall of dust that obscured the skyline, impaired visibility for drivers, interrupted electrical services, and halted flights at one of the country’s busiest airports.
During the late afternoon, as the storm known as a haboob descended on Arizona City—approximately 60 miles southeast of Phoenix—Bernae Boykin Hitesman was in the car, driving her 9 and 11-year-old children home from school.
She had to quickly pull over as the storm engulfed her car. “I couldn’t see my hand in front of my face if I put my hand outside,” she said.
Boykin Hitesman said she could taste the dust and feel the strong wind rattling her car until it finally passed about 15 minutes later.
“I was nervous,” she said. “My kids were really, really scared, so I was trying to be brave for them.”
Haboobs are dust storms initiated by winds from a weather front or thunderstorms, typically manifesting in flat, dry regions. Following Monday’s haboob, severe rain and strong winds caused flight delays at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and inflicted minor damage on a terminal’s roof.
According to Heather Shelbrack, the airport’s deputy aviation director for public relations, “Crews have been identifying leaks and are working to clean up water accumulated in passenger areas,” as stated in an email.
More than 15,000 people lost power, most in Maricopa County, which includes Phoenix, according to PowerOutage.us.
Richard Filley, a retired university professor residing in Gilbert, observed that the dust storm caused trees to bend and bird feeders to fall, while fine dust infiltrated “every little crack and space” within his home.
“I’m relieved the windstorm part is over,” he commented. “Haboob photographs display an extraordinary natural phenomenon, offering a distinctive kind of beauty.”
Phoenix has been drier than usual during the monsoon season, while parts of southeast and north-central Arizona have had a fair amount of rain, said Mark O’Malley, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Phoenix.
“But that’s typical for a monsoon, very hit and miss,” he said.
The forecast for metro Phoenix calls for a 40% chance of rain Tuesday before drying out, O’Malley said.
Golden reported from Seattle. Associated Press writer Felicia Fonseca contributed reporting from Flagstaff, Arizona.
