A powerful haboob rolled through Phoenix and surrounding areas, creating a towering wall of dust that darkened skies, blinded drivers, knocked out power and damaged Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. The storm moved from the south-east and was driven by winds from a weather front and thunderstorms, followed by heavy rain, wind and lightning. Motorists and residents reported extremely limited visibility, gusts strong enough to rattle vehicles and sway trees, and fine dust infiltrating homes. Airport crews identified leaks and water accumulation in passenger areas, while tens of thousands in Maricopa County lost power.
A powerful storm kicked up a towering wall of dust that rolled through the city of Phoenix, Arizona, on Monday, darkening the sky, blinding drivers, knocking out power and damaging one of the nation's busiest airports. The dust storm, known as a haboob, is pushed by the wind and produced by a weather front or thunderstorm. It typically occurs in flat, arid areas.
She had to quickly pull over as the storm engulfed her car. I couldn't see my hand in front of my face if I put my hand outside, she said. Boykin Hitesman said she could taste the dust and feel the strong wind rattling her car until it finally passed about 15 minutes later. I was nervous, she said. My kids were really, really scared, so I was trying to be brave for them.
Richard Filley, a retired university professor who lives in Gilbert, said the dust storm caused the trees to sway and knocked bird feeders to the ground. Fine dust found its way through every little crack and space into his house, he said. The windstorm part of it, I'm glad it's gone, he said. You look at the photos of haboobs and they are a spectacular natural phenomenon. They are kind of beautiful in their own way.
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