Dust Storm — Sonoran Desert Natl Monument, Arizona

2020-08-17 · Sonoran Desert Natl Monument, Arizona

Event narrative

Visibility fell as low as a few hundred feet along Highway-238, east of Gila Bend, in a dust storm that was moving west through southern Maricopa county in the evening. The dust storm was produced by strong outflow winds from severe warned storms earlier in parts of eastern Maricopa and northern Pinal counties. Winds with the dust storm were estimated around 30-40 mph based on radar. No injuries were reported.

Wider weather episode

Isolated severe storms developed over the high terrain east of Phoenix in the afternoon and progressed westward through Maricopa, Pinal, and parts of Yuma county through the evening. The storms produced damaging outflow winds as they progressed through southeast Phoenix which also led to the development of a dust storm south of Phoenix in dust prone areas. The outflow and dust pushed into Yuma county later in the evening before diffusing.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 913877. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.