Massive dust storm sweeps through Phoenix area

As a former resident of PHX, haboobs are an annual event, usually pushed into the valley by the first monsoon storm of the year. There are occasional smaller ones with the second storm, but after that it's just the usual suspects associated with thunderstorms. After the first storm, most of the loose sand and dust has already been transported and deposited in another area.

They are pretty spectacular when they happen, though!

I live in a Phoenix suburb and have lived in AZ since 1988. While Haboobs do occur occasionally, I cannot remember one of this magnitude since I moved here. The weather people here call it the Perfect Storm because of the different weather conditions such as the many collapsing Thunderstorms that pushed the dust out in the wide storm that usually dissipates before entering Phoenix. My pool had mud in it the next day 1/4 inch thick.

As a kid, I grew up in Phoenix in the early 40's. We spent summer days in the Coronado pool and I remember being sent home as the dust storms were seen heading our way. Mom's laundry hanging to dry became a muddy mess! I guess we never got the "big one", but to my recall, all was just like the excited reporters keep telling us today. Yes, even these pass and become only memories ... until the next one!

I lived there but never saw one that big. Dust gets into everything. how do you clean your car, fridge, tV, etc?

I have seen them in Southern Alberta as well. Very scary as a child the first time you see one.

The dust was so thick that it set off the fire alarm system at Sky Harbor Airport. I still have grit in my mouth,,,yuk!

haboob... Can someone define that? I lived in Phx for a number of years. never heard of that term.
As for Wayne's comment. I believe you, Wayne. It is nasty.

The name Haboob is the rooted from the Arabic word "phenomena". This form of monsoon occurs from May until September. It's a dust storm moving at a maximum speed of 80kph (50mph), the average speed is 50kph (30mph). The storm can reach up to heights of 3000 feet. They last about three hours, in which they change the desert landscape.
The Haboob wind is caused by thunderclouds in a final phase. Downdrafts in a thunderstorm causes gust fronts, descending air hitting the grond and picking up large amounts of dust. The force moves the dust from above.

http://mediatheek.thinkquest.nl/~ll118/en/development/types.list.haboob.html

No wonder I didn't recognize it... There weren't any Arabs in Arizona when I lived there.

I lived in Libya for a year and a half. They have them there as well.