Towering haboob turns day into evening in Phoenix as highly effective winds knock out energy, trigger journey chaos

PHOENIX – An epic mud storm, often known as a haboob, swept throughout the Phoenix space in Arizona on Monday, knocking out energy to 1000’s of utility prospects and inflicting journey chaos as damaging winds ripped throughout the area.

The intense state of affairs started to unfold on Monday as monsoon storms rolled throughout parts of Arizona, producing heavy rain and thunderstorms.

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According to the Gilbert Police Department, the highly effective storms knocked down timber and energy strains, prompting officers to ask individuals to keep away from journey till crews might clear particles from the roadways.

“If you must travel, please drive with caution as we are working diligently to restore lights and clear roadways,” police said in a post on X.

WHAT IS A HABOOB?

The mud storm additionally led to journey issues at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, with officers issuing a floor cease for flights arriving and departing for security.

According to data supplied by Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, there have been a couple of areas of the power the place leaking occurred resulting from excessive winds and heavy rain that impacted the realm on Monday.

In addition, some flights have been diverted because of the harmful climate circumstances.

Officials stated contractors labored via the evening to make repairs, and all methods have been again to regular by Tuesday morning.

Dust Storm Warnings have been issued in Arizona on Monday, together with the Phoenix space, inflicting chaos on Interstate 10 as visibility rapidly dropped to zero.

There have been additionally reviews of injury as winds gusted to 60 mph at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and 66 mph close to East Mesa. There have been additionally reviews of a roof being torn off a house close to Marana, Arizona.

Outside the mud storm, thunderstorms have been reported in Phoenix and Tucson.

Phoenix noticed its second-wettest day of 2025 however continues to be experiencing its Tenth-driest begin to any yr, whereas Tucson is experiencing its third-driest yr so far.

Both cities’ information return to 1895.

More monsoon storms on the best way

“The Southwest? Guess what. Monsoon is in full swing,” FOX Weather Meteorologist Britta Merwin stated. “A little bit of a slow onset, but we’re feeling it. And it has been bone dry in Arizona.”

The FOX Forecast Center stated a ridge of excessive stress shifted towards the Four Corners area over the weekend, and a surge of monsoonal moisture has been pushing via the realm.

The rainfall is useful as all of Arizona is in a drought.

More precipitation and thunderstorms are on the best way, and fears are rising that flash flooding might happen resulting from intense rainfall charges of 1-1.5 inches an hour.

Flood-prone areas, together with in canyons and burn-scar areas, ought to stay alert to potential flooding.

In truth, NOAA’s Weather Prediction Center (WPC) has positioned parts of southern Arizona in a Level 2 out of 4 flash flood threat on Tuesday.

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