Dust Storm — Gila River Valley, Arizona

2024-07-30 · Gila River Valley, Arizona

Event narrative

Visibility of 0.08 of a mile measured at the Yuma Proving Ground Station 5, located northeast of Roll, AZ, due to dense blowing dust from thunderstorm outflow winds.

Wider weather episode

A strong thunderstorm complex, likely instigated from upper-level ascent from an upper-level low moving northward along the Baja Peninsula, developed over Pima County during the early afternoon hours. A strong outflow boundary emanating from the thunderstorm complex then migrated westward across southwestern Maricopa and Yuma Counties in southwest AZ, with areas of dense blowing dust observed. A Yuma Proving Ground Station reported visibilities down to less than one tenth of a mile at one point.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1203079. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.