Dust Storm — Southeast Gila County, Arizona

2021-07-09 · Southeast Gila County, Arizona

Event narrative

Severe thunderstorms sent strong outflow winds through southeastern parts of the Valley during the evening on the 9th, creating a dust storm that led to multiple reports of dense blowing dust. At 2210MST, a trained weather spotter reported visibility less than a quarter mile in the Queen Creek area. Further to the west at 2228MST, a trained weather spotter reported low visibility less than a quarter mile near Riggs Road and Gilbert Road. No accidents or injuries were reported.

Wider weather episode

Thunderstorms developed along the Mogollon Rim during the early part of the afternoon on the 9th. Relatively strong easterly mid level anticyclonic flow associated with the upper level ridge centered near the Arizona/Utah state line helped allow strong to severe thunderstorms to propagate westward into the lower deserts. The severe thunderstorms led to damaging winds gusts upwards of 60-65 mph across southeast portions of the Phoenix metro. Thee severe winds ahead of the thunderstorms also produced a dust storm that led to widespread reports of dense blowing dust across central and southeastern Phoenix and as far south as Casa Grande. A few isolated instances of flash flooding occurred as well, including the recent Telegraph burn scar where over 0.75 of rain fell. There were numerous reports of damage across eastern parts of the Valley, including numerous power poles and large trees down. No injuries were reported with these thunderstorms.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 974967. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.