A massive dust storm swept through the Phoenix area late Monday, darkening skies and knocking out power for thousands. The storm, known as a haboob, sent a towering wall of dust hundreds of feet high rolling over city neighborhoods, leaving a trail of downed trees and scattered debris in its wake.
About 55,000 customers lost electricity as strong winds whipped through the region. Crews quickly sprang into action, clearing fallen trees and restoring power for most by Tuesday afternoon. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport also faced disruptions. High winds blew parts of a terminal roof onto the tarmac, forcing flights to pause while repairs were made through the night. By the next day, flight delays were minor, and airport operations were mostly back to normal.
Residents described the storm as both frightening and awe-inspiring. In Arizona City, around 60 miles southeast of Phoenix, Bernae Boykin Hitesman was driving her two children home from school when the dust cloud enveloped their car. She pulled over as visibility dropped to nearly zero, with dust so thick she couldn’t see her hand in front of her face. The wind rattled the car, and dust filled the air for about 15 minutes. “My kids were really scared, so I had to stay brave for them,” she said.
In Gilbert, retired professor Richard Filley witnessed the storm’s force as wind knocked bird feeders from trees and fine dust crept into every crack of his home. While relieved the harsh winds passed, he called the haboob a striking natural event.
Haboobs are dust storms tied to thunderstorm downdrafts, common in flat, dry areas like Arizona. The rain that followed was a rare good sign for the desert city, which has seen much less rain than usual this year. Phoenix normally gets about 7 inches of rain annually, with a large part during the monsoon season running from mid-June to mid-September. So far, only around 2 inches have fallen—well below average.
Monday’s rain measured roughly a third of an inch. Though welcome, National Weather Service meteorologist Tom Frieders said it won’t make a big difference to drought conditions. Other parts of Arizona have had more varied rainfall this season, which experts say is typical of the sometimes patchy monsoon weather.
As the dust settles and the city recovers, many are left watching the sky, reminded of the powerful forces shaping their desert home.