Dust Storm — Greater Phoenix Area, Arizona

2016-08-09 · Greater Phoenix Area, Arizona

Event narrative

Strong thunderstorms developed over the eastern portion of the greater Phoenix area, including Apache Junction, during the late morning hours on August 9th and they produced gusty outflow winds in excess of 40 mph. The winds overspread much of the greater Phoenix area and they stirred up significant amounts of dust, leading to dust storm conditions. Multiple trained spotter reports indicated visibility had fallen to one quarter of mile or less in a dust storm. At 1130MST, a trained weather spotter 2 miles southeast of Gilbert reported one eighth of a mile visibility in a dust storm. At about the same time, the official ASOS weather station at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport measured one eighth of a mile visibility in dense blowing dust. A Dust Storm Warning was in effect for the greater Phoenix area beginning at 1115MST and continuing until noon.

Wider weather episode

During the late morning hours on August 9th, thunderstorms developed over portions of the greater Phoenix area, including the community of Apache Junction. The stronger storms generated gusty outflow winds in excess of 40 mph which overspread much of the greater Phoenix area as well as the central deserts to the south and east of Phoenix. The strong wind picked up significant amounts of dust and dirt and created dust storm conditions resulting in sharply reduced visibility below one quarter of a mile. Multiple trained weather spotters reported visibility at or below one quarter of a mile in a dust storm and a Dust Storm Warning was issued for the the south central deserts beginning at 1115MST and continuing through noon. Fortunately no serious accidents or injuries occurred due to the dense blowing dust.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 647196. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.