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

Megan Liscomb
3 Min Read

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.

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

Related: “This Is Deeply Fascist”: People Are Floored That This Banner Was Actually Placed On A Government Building In DC

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

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

Related: Hillary Clinton Just Hit On One Of Donald Trump’s Biggest Insecurities With Three Words

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

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

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

Related: “Can A Trump Supporter Explain”: 49 Brutal, Brutal, Brutal Political Tweets Of The Month

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

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

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

Related: Donald Trump Just Shared A Very Ominous Post, And People Are Calling It “One Of The Worst Statements Ever Made By A Sitting US President”

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

12.And fallen branches:

Car crushed under fallen tree branches on residential street at night. Nearby houses visible

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

Also in In the News: “I Am So Torn With What You Are Doing” — 11 Posts From MAGA Business Owners Who Are So Close To Getting It

Also in In the News: Critics Are Ripping “Hypocrite” Kristi Noem By Using Her Own Words Against Her

Also in In the News: 19 Trump Voters Are Reacting To The Rumors That Trump Wants To Run In 2028

Read it on BuzzFeed.com

Share This Article
Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *