Towering Dust Storm Hits Phoenix, Disrupts Life and Flights

A powerful dust storm swept through the Phoenix metropolitan area on August 25, 2023, creating a towering wall of dust that severely disrupted daily life. The storm, classified as a haboob, left thousands without electricity, grounded flights at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, and posed significant hazards for drivers across the region.

Bernae Boykin Hitesman was driving her two children, aged 9 and 11, home from school when the storm struck Arizona City, approximately 95 kilometers southeast of Phoenix. As the dust enveloped her vehicle, she found it nearly impossible to see. “I couldn’t see my hand in front of my face if I put my hand outside,” she recalled. The intense gusts rattled her car as she struggled to maintain control. “I was nervous. My kids were really, really scared, so I was trying to be brave for them,” she said.

Storm Causes Major Disruptions

The haboob, driven by winds related to a weather front and thunderstorms, brought heavy rain and strong winds in its wake. This combination resulted in flight delays at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and caused damage to a terminal roof. Heather Shelbrack, the airport’s deputy aviation director for public relations, confirmed that crews have been actively identifying leaks and managing water accumulation in passenger areas.

More than 15,000 residents lost power, primarily in Maricopa County, according to data from PowerOutage.us. Richard Filley, a retired university professor residing in Gilbert, reported that the storm caused trees to sway and knocked bird feeders to the ground. He noted that fine dust infiltrated his home through every available crack and space. “The windstorm part of it, I’m glad it’s gone,” he stated. “You look at the photos of haboobs, and they are a spectacular natural phenomenon. They are kind of beautiful in their own way.”

Meteorologist Mark O’Malley from the National Weather Service in Phoenix noted that this year’s monsoon season has been drier than usual in the Phoenix area, while some parts of southeast and north-central Arizona have experienced considerable rainfall. He explained the variability typical of monsoon patterns, saying, “That’s typical for a monsoon, very hit and miss.”

The forecast for metro Phoenix indicates a 40 percent chance of rain for the following day, before conditions are expected to dry out.

This recent event serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of monsoon weather in the region and the impact it can have on daily life, infrastructure, and safety. As residents begin to recover from the disruptions, they remain alert to the potential for further storms in the coming days.