A haboob covered central Arizona in dust. But what exactly is it?

"Parts of central Arizona were engulfed by a towering wall of dust on Monday evening producing dramatic scenes that sent shockwaves far beyond the Grand Canyon state. "It was larger and it went through a metropolitan area so it gained a lot of attention," said Mark O'Malley, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Phoenix. According to O'Malley, the dust storm known as a haboob originated in southern Arizona around 3:30 p.m. local time and reached the city of Phoenix about two hours later."

"The haboob was accompanied by intense thunderstorms. On Monday evening, more than 39,000 households in Arizona were without power and the bulk of outages were in Maricopa County, which includes Phoenix, according to NPR member station KJZZ. The dust storm also reduced visibility to a quarter-mile across the city. The state's Department of Transportation urged drivers to stay off the road and flights at the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport were temporarily grounded, KJZZ reported."

Parts of central Arizona were engulfed by a towering wall of dust Monday evening as a haboob moved from southern Arizona into Phoenix. The dust storm originated around 3:30 p.m. local time and reached Phoenix about two hours later, gradually weakening and lasting about an hour. The haboob was accompanied by intense thunderstorms, reduced visibility to a quarter-mile and caused over 39,000 household power outages, primarily in Maricopa County. Roadway warnings were issued and flights at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport were temporarily grounded. Dozens of dust storms occur annually in the southwestern U.S. These storms form when thunderstorm outflows push air down and forward, lifting dust and debris.

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