Dust Storm — Southeast Pinal County, Arizona

2009-11-28 · Southeast Pinal County, Arizona

Event narrative

Local areas of blowing dust along Interstate 10 resulted in several vehicle collisions near the Casa Grande and Eloy areas during the morning hours. A fatal collision occurred at approximately 10:30 AM near mile marker 213, between a mini-van and tractor/trailer. Locally dense blowing dust reduced visibility, causing the mini-van to collide with the tractor/trailer from behind. This collision resulted in two fatalities and one serious injury, all of them occupants of the mini-van. The two occupants of the tractor/trailer were not injured. A total of four other accidents occurred as a result of the locally dense blowing dust, all of them near mile markers 214 and 215 on Interstate 10. One of these collisions involved six vehicles, and three of them resulted in an unknown number of injuries.

Wider weather episode

A strong low pressure system in southern California produced strong south winds across southeast Arizona. The winds remained below wind advisory criteria, averaging 20 to 30 mph and gusting to near 40 mph on the higher terrain. These winds, combined with the prevailing dry conditions, resulted in locally dense blowing dust in Pinal county.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 198348. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.