Phoenix engulfed by 3rd giant dust storm in less than two months
Posted on August 19, 2011
PHOENIX — A giant wall of dust rolled through the Phoenix area
on Thursday for the third time since early July — turning the sky brown, creating
dangerous driving conditions and delaying some airline flights. The dust storm, also
known as a haboob in Arabic and around Arizona, swept through Pinal County and
headed northeast, reaching Phoenix at about 6 p.m. Some incoming and departing
flights at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport were temporarily delayed because
of the storm, according to airport officials who couldn’t immediately provide exact
numbers. Take-offs and landing began again at about 6:50 p.m. National Weather
Service meteorologists said a powerful thunderstorm packing winds of up to 60 mph
hit Pinal County and pushed the dust storm toward Arizona’s most populous county.
There were several reports of downed poles and Salt River Project officials said 3,500
of its customers were without electricity, mostly in the Queen Creek area southeast
of Phoenix. There were no immediate reports of any weather-related auto accidents.
It was the third major dust storm to hit the Phoenix metro area since last month.
A haboob on July 5 brought a mile-high wall of dust that halted airline flights,
knocked out power for 10,000 people and covered everything in its path with a
thick sheet of dust. Another dust storm hit July 18 reaching heights of 3,000 to
4,000 feet, delaying flights and cutting off power for more than 2,000 people in
the Phoenix metro area. Weather officials say haboobs only happen in Arizona,
the Sahara desert and parts of the Middle East because of dry conditions and
large amounts of sand. –The Chron
Posted on August 19, 2011
PHOENIX — A giant wall of dust rolled through the Phoenix area
on Thursday for the third time since early July — turning the sky brown, creating
dangerous driving conditions and delaying some airline flights. The dust storm, also
known as a haboob in Arabic and around Arizona, swept through Pinal County and
headed northeast, reaching Phoenix at about 6 p.m. Some incoming and departing
flights at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport were temporarily delayed because
of the storm, according to airport officials who couldn’t immediately provide exact
numbers. Take-offs and landing began again at about 6:50 p.m. National Weather
Service meteorologists said a powerful thunderstorm packing winds of up to 60 mph
hit Pinal County and pushed the dust storm toward Arizona’s most populous county.
There were several reports of downed poles and Salt River Project officials said 3,500
of its customers were without electricity, mostly in the Queen Creek area southeast
of Phoenix. There were no immediate reports of any weather-related auto accidents.
It was the third major dust storm to hit the Phoenix metro area since last month.
A haboob on July 5 brought a mile-high wall of dust that halted airline flights,
knocked out power for 10,000 people and covered everything in its path with a
thick sheet of dust. Another dust storm hit July 18 reaching heights of 3,000 to
4,000 feet, delaying flights and cutting off power for more than 2,000 people in
the Phoenix metro area. Weather officials say haboobs only happen in Arizona,
the Sahara desert and parts of the Middle East because of dry conditions and
large amounts of sand. –The Chron
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