Dust Storm — Gila Bend, Arizona

2023-08-18 · Gila Bend, Arizona

Event narrative

Visibility down to as low as a few hundred feet was reported along I-8 west of Sentinel due to dense blowing dust from thunderstorm outflow. No accidents or injuries were reported.

Wider weather episode

An upper-level low pressure system just off the California Coast and the subtropical high pressure system over the southern Plains led to strong southerly flow across Arizona. This helped transport higher moisture content northward with precipitable water values reaching above 1.5. This led to moderate instability across southern Arizona with MLCAPE values of approximately 1000 J/KG. A strong thunderstorm complex developed near the international border across western Pima County. This thunderstorm complex sent a robust outflow northward into southwest Maricopa County leading to dense blowing dust.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1126212. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.