Dust Storm — Gila Bend, Arizona

2018-07-09 · Gila Bend, Arizona

Event narrative

Thunderstorms developed across the deserts southwest of Phoenix during the early evening hours on July 9th; some of the stronger storms generated gusty outflow winds that generated dense blowing dust and associated dust storm conditions. At 1815MST a member of the public reported near zero visibility in dense blowing dust; he was located 3 miles northeast of Gila Bend and along Highway 85 just north of the Gila Bend Municipal Airport. Not long after, at 1842MST, another public report of dense blowing dust was received along Interstate 8 about 1 mile southeast of the town of Sentinel in far southwest Maricopa County. Visibility was reduced to 100 feet in a dust storm as seen in a social media video. A Dust Storm Warning was issued for the Gila Bend area at 1727MST and it remained in effect until 1830MST. A second Dust Storm Warning was issued for the area near Sentinel at 1832MST and it was in effect until 1930MST.

Wider weather episode

Scattered thunderstorms developed across the south-central Arizona deserts, including the greater Phoenix area, during the afternoon and evening hours on July 9th. The storms generated strong and gusty outflow winds in excess of 50 mph at times. The gusty winds generated widespread dense blowing dust which led to numerous dust storms across the lower deserts. Some of the dust storms affected the greater Phoenix metropolitan area, others impacted open country to the west, southwest and southeast of the Phoenix area. In many cases visibility was lowered well below one quarter of a mile in dense blowing dust. Fortunately no accidents or injuries were reported due to the dust storms.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 765593. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.