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10 October 2022
A haboob (or dust storm) can sweep Arizona’s desert landscape anytime but most often occurs during the monsoon season, which typically lasts from June through September. There are dust storms that can be miles long and thousands of feet high. Haboobs can occur in arid and semiarid regions of North America and any dry region; however, they are particularly frequent in Arizona.
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During a thunderstorm, winds move opposite the storm, coming from all directions as a storm collapses and begins to release precipitation; wind directions then reverse, gusting outward from the storm and generally most potent in the storm’s direction.
As this downdraft of cold air reaches the ground, it blows dust up from the desert, creating a wall of airborne sediment that precedes the storm cloud; dust walls can be up to 62 miles wide. Haboob winds typically travel at 22–62 mph and may approach without warning.
There are times when rain does not fall at ground level due to evaporation in the hot air (a phenomenon known as virga). Evaporation cools the rushing air further and accelerates it.
In seconds, dust storms can reduce visibility to near zero, resulting in deadly, multi-vehicle accidents. Early in the monsoon, near agricultural areas and Willcox Playa in Cochise County are their most common occurrence. When thunderstorms are nearby, use caution in these areas.
To identify dust storm hazards, familiarize yourself with these terms:
If you have a smartphone, you can turn on your emergency alert settings to alert you when either of these warnings is in effect.
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Do your best to avoid driving when there is a haboob watch or warning. Haboobs plus cars are a deadly combination. However, if you can’t avoid it, here’s what to do:
A dust storm usually lasts a few minutes to an hour at most. Until the dust storm passes, stay put. After a Haboob passes, follow instructions from the National Weather Service about additional hazardous conditions that may be expected.
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