Powerful thunderstorms and a massive dust storm swept across metro Phoenix on Monday, knocking out power to more than 15,000 customers, grounding flights at one of the nation’s busiest airports, and leaving drivers struggling to see through the haze.
The towering wall of dust — known as a haboob — reached Arizona City, about 60 miles southeast of Phoenix, just before 6 p.m., plunging the area into near-zero visibility.
This photo provided by the City of Phoenix shows a towering cloud of dust at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025. (City of Phoenix via AP)
The storm was followed by heavy thunderstorms that downed trees across the region and caused damage at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, leading to three flight cancellations, one diversion and more than 100 delays.
The extreme weather prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to issue a ground stop at 5:30 p.m., which lasted about 30 minutes.
Sky Harbor spokesperson Gregory E. Roybal told The Arizona Republic that the storms led to leaks throughout the airport, including the PHX Sky Train.
The National Weather Service in Phoenix issued multiple dust storm warnings to the region, saying visibility could drop to 50 feet and urging drivers to use caution.
“Pull aside, stay alive,” forecasters warned motorists.
Multiple flash flood advisories and severe thunderstorm warnings were in effect until 9 p.m., according to the NWS.
More than 15,000 customers in the regions temporarily lost power, according to data compiled by PowerOutage.us.
Haboobs form when powerful thunderstorm outflow winds lift loose dust and sand into the air, creating a massive wall of debris that can drastically reduce visibility.
While they can occur anywhere in the U.S., they are most common in the Southwest, the NWS said.
With News Wire Services
https://www.nydailynews.com/2025/08/26/phoenix-haboob-dust-storm-flights-power/

