People Are Absolutely Stunned By These Viral Photos Of A Massive Dust Storm Swallowing Phoenix, Arizona

Date: Category:US Views:1 Comment:0


When I think about Phoenix, Arizona, I usually think about sweating more than I ever have in my whole life, thanks to summer temps that average around 105. Not exactly the kind of place where I'd want to go hiking in jeans.

View of a cityscape at sunset from a desert landscape with cacti in the foreground
Matt Mawson / Getty Images

1.Well, looks like there's another kind of extreme Arizona weather that looks like something out of my wildest nightmares. Behold, the haboob:

Massive dust storm approaching Phoenix, visible from above. The city's landscape is beneath ominous clouds, with user interactions on display
@joeaz480 / Via tiktok.com

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2.A haboob is a massive dust storm that's formed when monsoon winds pick up dirt and sand. Winds in a haboob can reach gusts of up to 70 miles per hour, and the wall of dust can get up to 10,000 feet.

Massive dust storm approaches a suburban area in Phoenix, as seen in a TikTok video with engagement statistics on screen
@joeaz480 / Via tiktok.com

3.A haboob can span hundreds of miles and last for anywhere from a few minutes to hours.

Massive sandstorm, known as a haboob, approaches a suburban street. Text reads about impending hit in 30 seconds. TikTok interface visible on screen
@mortgageguybeingreal / Via tiktok.com

4.Just before 5 p.m. last night, a haboob blew into the Phoenix area. One driver took these pictures on their commute, showing how quickly the skies above them darkened, from this:

Sandstorm approaching highway, with cars on the road and palm trees lining the sides, creating reduced visibility for drivers
funkysockz / Via reddit.com

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5.To this:

Cars drive on a highway during heavy fog or haze, with visibility greatly reduced. Headlights and taillights are on, illuminating the blurry scene
funkysockz / Via reddit.com

6.The storm grounded flights leaving the city and prevented incoming flights from landing. This resident, attempting to return home, captured the haboob from the air, writing, "What a view. I miss my dogs though."

View from a plane window of a massive dust storm approaching a city, highlighting the stark contrast between urban landscape and nature
cutedogs28 / Via reddit.com

7.All over the city, people were snapping pictures of the approaching massive wall of dust looming over backyards:

A massive dust storm approaches a residential area, with a wall of dust visible over trees and homes, captured from a backyard perspective
Str8Thuggin13 / Via reddit.com

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8.Towering over parking lots:

A massive dust storm approaches a parking lot with palm trees under a cloudy sky, creating a dramatic natural scene
Least_Cricket6205 / Via reddit.com

9.And threatening the city. This user wrote, "Phoenix, AZ or Arrakis?"

Dust storm approaching a city with roads, traffic, and buildings visible. Sky is overcast
ThicccBoiJesus / Via reddit.com

10.This enormous dust storm brought heavy rains and intense winds to the city. It also caused a power outage affecting tens of thousands of people.

Two side-by-side photos: a residential area under a darkening sky and street lights on, with a tweet about a looming weather event
desert-walker / Via bsky.app

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11.In the aftermath of the storm, some residents are now reckoning with damage caused by downed trees:

Tree grows through roof of a house, bending over and partially blocking the front entrance. Desert-style landscaping surrounds the house
Cool_Eth / Via reddit.com

12.And fallen branches:

Car crushed under fallen tree branches on residential street at night. Nearby houses visible
heshwillbiteANYTHING / Via reddit.com

13.As local meteorologist Amber Sullins tweeted, "This one was a beast!"

Tweet by Amber Sullins showing two images of a massive dust storm in the Phoenix area, describing it as a "beast" with hashtags #abc15wx and #azweather
AmberSullins / Via x.com

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