Dust Storm — Tonopah Desert, Arizona

2021-08-16 · Tonopah Desert, Arizona

Event narrative

An Arizona Department of Transportation webcam on the Loop 303 near Bethany Home Road showed near zero visibility due to dense blowing dust. No accidents or injuries were reported.

Wider weather episode

A shortwave trough rotating through the region led to steepening lapse rates and increasingly unstable conditions across central Arizona on the 16th. With abundant moisture and high CAPE values in place, the environment was favorable for the development of strong to severe thunderstorms. Thunderstorms initially developed over the high terrain of eastern Arizona before racing toward the west/southwest into the lower deserts of south-central Arizona as a line of strong to severe thunderstorms. The main impacts associated with these thunderstorms occurred as they moved into the Phoenix metro, producing widespread damaging wind gusts. Multiple observations recorded wind gusts in excess of 60 mph with a few approaching 80 mph. Recently implemented damage threat categories for Severe Thunderstorm Warnings were put to the test with one destructive Severe Thunderstorm Warning being issued for 80 mph wind gusts for much of Phoenix. There were numerous reports of downed trees across the Valley as a result of the severe wind gusts. The strong winds also led to several reports of dense blowing dust in dust prone areas. Additionally, thunderstorms produced locally heavy rainfall that led to several instances of flash flooding. No injuries were reported.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 983736. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.