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Arizona plunged into darkness as haboob hits — What is a haboob? how dangerous is it?

Arizona plunged into darkness as haboob hits — What is a haboob? how dangerous is it?

A passenger at Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix captures the massive wall of dust just before it hit the airport on Monday.(Adrienne Tabar)

A massive wall of dust swept across the Phoenix metro on Monday evening, plunging neighborhoods, highways, and even Arizona’s busiest airport into chaos before severe thunderstorms followed with destructive winds and heavy rain.

The phenomenon, known as a haboob, rose thousands of feet into the sky and rolled across central Arizona with startling speed. Within minutes, visibility dropped to near zero, drivers on Interstate 10 and I-17 were forced to pull over, and emergency warnings urged residents to “pull aside, stay alive.”



In the storm’s wake, trees were uprooted, traffic lights toppled, and more than 60,000 homes and businesses lost power, most of them in Maricopa County. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport was briefly brought to a standstill as winds gusted to 70 mph, damaging a connector bridge and forcing a ground stop on departing and arriving flights. Delays continued into the night as crews inspected the airfield for damage.

Rainfall totals varied across the region. In the West Valley, Buckeye recorded 2.5 inches, while Wickenburg, Crown King, and Kirkland each received more than two inches. The East Valley saw lighter but still significant rainfall, with central Mesa picking up 1.6 inches. Tucson and parts of Pima County also saw one to two inches, raising concerns about flash flooding in rural areas.



The National Weather Service issued multiple warnings throughout the afternoon and evening, covering areas from Mesa and Gilbert to Chandler Heights and Queen Creek, and extending into Pinal and Yuma counties. Wind gusts measured at 67 mph in Chandler underscored the storm’s intensity, leaving widespread damage across local communities.

Dust storms are a familiar hazard during Arizona’s monsoon season, but this event carried unusual force. Meteorologists explained that the haboob formed after a thunderstorm collapsed, sending powerful outflow winds racing across the desert and lifting soil into a wall-like formation stretching for miles. By the time the system reached Phoenix, it resembled a desert blizzard, blotting out the horizon.



Similar dust events have impacted other parts of the Southwest recently, including Nevada, where a weekend storm disrupted arrivals at the annual Burning Man festival.



While skies began to clear by late Monday, forecasters said Arizona is not out of the woods. Cooler temperatures are expected briefly this week, but with triple-digit heat returning by the weekend, the state may still see more monsoon thunderstorms before the season winds down.

What is a Haboob?

A haboob is a type of intense dust storm carried by strong thunderstorm winds. The word comes from the Arabic term “habb” meaning “to blow”, and it is commonly used to describe the towering walls of dust that sweep across desert regions in places like the Middle East, North Africa, and the American Southwest.

In Arizona and other parts of the U.S. Southwest, haboobs are a dramatic feature of the monsoon season, which typically runs from June through September. These storms form when powerful downdrafts from collapsing thunderstorms rush toward the ground and spread out in all directions. As the winds race across dry desert terrain, they scoop up massive amounts of loose sand and soil, lifting them high into the air.

The result is a rolling wall of dust that can rise thousands of feet and stretch for miles, often moving quickly enough to engulf entire cities within minutes.

Why are haboobs dangerous?

  • Low visibility: Drivers caught in a haboob can suddenly find themselves unable to see more than a few feet ahead, creating life-threatening road conditions.

  • Air quality: The dust can aggravate asthma and other respiratory conditions, especially in vulnerable populations.

  • Damage: High winds associated with these storms can topple trees, knock out power lines, and scatter debris.

What should you do if you encounter a haboob?

  • If driving, pull off the road completely, turn off your lights, and keep your foot off the brake pedal to avoid being rear-ended.

  • Stay indoors if possible, and keep windows and doors shut.

  • Have water, a flashlight, and backup power sources ready in case of outages.

How long do haboobs last?

Most haboobs are relatively short-lived, usually 30 minutes to an hour, but their impact can linger. The storms often precede or accompany thunderstorms that bring heavy rain, flooding, and dangerous lightning.

Though they are a natural part of desert ecosystems, haboobs serve as a stark reminder of how quickly weather can change during the monsoon and why it’s essential to heed warnings when they appear on the horizon.



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