This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/aug/26/arizona-dust-storm-phoenix-power-outages-flight-delays

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Arizona dust storm engulfs Phoenix, bringing power outages and flight delays Arizona dust storm engulfs Phoenix, bringing power outages and flight delays
(about 3 hours later)
Haboob swept through capital, rattling homes, terrifying drivers and leaving tens of thousands without powerHaboob swept through capital, rattling homes, terrifying drivers and leaving tens of thousands without power
A powerful storm kicked up a towering wall of dust that rolled through the city of Phoenix, Arizona, on Monday, darkening the sky, blinding drivers, knocking out power and damaging one of the nation’s busiest airports.A powerful storm kicked up a towering wall of dust that rolled through the city of Phoenix, Arizona, on Monday, darkening the sky, blinding drivers, knocking out power and damaging one of the nation’s busiest airports.
The dust storm, known as a haboob, is pushed by the wind and produced by a weather front or thunderstorm. It typically occurs in flat, arid areas. The storm came from the south-east, and was followed by heavy rain, wind and lightning.The dust storm, known as a haboob, is pushed by the wind and produced by a weather front or thunderstorm. It typically occurs in flat, arid areas. The storm came from the south-east, and was followed by heavy rain, wind and lightning.
Bernae Boykin Hitesman was driving her son and daughter, ages nine and 11, home from school when the storm arrived late in the afternoon in Arizona City, about 60 miles (95km) south-east of Phoenix.Bernae Boykin Hitesman was driving her son and daughter, ages nine and 11, home from school when the storm arrived late in the afternoon in Arizona City, about 60 miles (95km) south-east of Phoenix.
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.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.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.”“I was nervous,” she said. “My kids were really, really scared, so I was trying to be brave for them.”
Richard Filley, a retired university professor who lives in Gilbert, said the dust storm caused the trees to sway and knocked bird feeders to the ground. Fine dust found its way through “every little crack and space” into his house, he said.Richard Filley, a retired university professor who lives in Gilbert, said the dust storm caused the trees to sway and knocked bird feeders to the ground. Fine dust found its way through “every little crack and space” into his house, he said.
“The windstorm part of it, I’m glad it’s gone,” he said. “You look at the photos of haboobs and they are a spectacular natural phenomenon. They are kind of beautiful in their own way.”“The windstorm part of it, I’m glad it’s gone,” he said. “You look at the photos of haboobs and they are a spectacular natural phenomenon. They are kind of beautiful in their own way.”
Heavy rain and wind followed Monday’s haboob, delaying flights at Phoenix Sky Harbor international airport and causing some damage to the airport.Heavy rain and wind followed Monday’s haboob, delaying flights at Phoenix Sky Harbor international airport and causing some damage to the airport.
“Crews have been identifying leaks and attempting to clean up water where it has collected in passenger areas,” Heather Shelbrack, the airport’s deputy aviation director for public relations, said in an email.“Crews have been identifying leaks and attempting to clean up water where it has collected in passenger areas,” Heather Shelbrack, the airport’s deputy aviation director for public relations, said in an email.
Tens of thousands of customers in Maricopa county lost power.Tens of thousands of customers in Maricopa county lost power.
Phoenix has been drier than usual during the monsoon season, while parts of south-east and north-central Arizona have had a fair amount of rain, said Mark O’Malley, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Phoenix.Phoenix has been drier than usual during the monsoon season, while parts of south-east 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.“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 on Tuesday before drying out, O’Malley said.The forecast for metro Phoenix calls for a 40% chance of rain on Tuesday before drying out, O’Malley said.
The storm comes just days after the Burning Man festival in the Nevada desert was hit by dust storms and high winds.The storm comes just days after the Burning Man festival in the Nevada desert was hit by dust storms and high winds.
The annual gathering in the Black Rock desert officially started on Sunday, but attenders who had already set up camp on Saturday were confronted with a powerful dust storm that sent tents flying and plunged visibility to near zero.
Footage shared on social media by attenders showed intense winds, dust storms and collapsed tents.Footage shared on social media by attenders showed intense winds, dust storms and collapsed tents.
The National Weather Service Reno warned on Tuesday that more storms could hit the region, and could persist late into the evening.