Dust Storm in Northwest Pinal County, Arizona

Camera from the Arizona Department of Transportation showed visibility of less than 1/4 mile in the area of State Route 347 and Casa Blanca Road due to dense blowing dust from thunderstorm outflow winds. No accidents or injuries were reported.

The subtropical high was situated near the Four Corners area, producing an easterly steering flow of 15-20 kts across the region. Thunderstorm activity erupted near the Mogollon Rim during the early afternoon hours and was steered west to west-southwestward into the lower deserts of south-central AZ, where new thunderstorm activity developed along outflow boundaries. With MLCAPE values of around 1000 J/KG and DCAPE values in excess of 1500 J/KG, the environment was favorable for these thunderstorms to produce strong to severe downburst wind gusts as well as areas of dense blowing dust across the dust prone areas.