Haboob dust storm engulfs Phoenix, causing mass power outages and airport delays

A powerful dust storm rolled through Phoenix on Monday, cloaking parts of the city in darkness and causing severe rain and damaging thunderstorms. Widespread power outages, downed trees and wind damage also occurred across the city.

At Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, a connector bridge was reportedly destroyed by 70 mph gusts of wind. Flights were grounded for an hour to prevent planes from coming or going as the dust storm persisted. Airport spokesperson Gregory Roybal told CNN that the airport also experienced delays of up to 30 minutes late Monday night as crews tended to roof leaks and other damage.

In Gilbert, a city southeast of Phoenix, police said the storm knocked down traffic lights and trees. More than 60,000 customers in Arizona were left without power after the haboob slammed through the state, according to PowerOutage.us.

The fast-moving weather phenomenon, known meteorologically as a haboob, forms when intense winds from a thunderstorm rush outward and create a thick, powerful wall of dust. The outflow — air rushing away from the collapsing storm — gathered large quantities of sand while moving across the desert state. A haboob commonly occurs in areas that are flat and arid.

The National Weather Service issued dust storm and severe thunderstorm warnings in Phoenix as the haboob slammed into Maricopa County on Monday evening. Warning of low visibility, the NWS urged drivers to “pull aside stay alive” to avoid commuting in dangerous conditions.

Launched by the Arizona Department of Transportation, the “Pull Aside. Stay Alive” campaign aims to provide drivers with safety and survival tips, should they ever be in a vehicle when a dust storm is approaching.

Monday’s haboob occurred after a dust storm barreled through Nevada, hitting the annual Burning Man festival in Black Rock City over the weekend. Four minor injuries were reported.

While dust storms typically occur during the monsoon season, which is from June to September, they can happen any time of the year.