Phoenix Dust Storm Seen from Space

phoenix-dust-storm-110707-02 — (Image credit: NASA)

Just before 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday (July 5) a mile-high, nearly 100-mile-wide dust storm roared through Phoenix, Arizona.

AZCentral.com reported that the dust storm was traveling 50 to 60 miles per hour. At the storm's peak, visibility varied from a quarter of a mile to nothing, and the storm left behind a path of dust, debris, and muddy swimming pools.

Faint remnants of the storm remained the next day when the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA's Terra satellite captured this natural-color image. The lingering dust plume appears gray-beige, and the thickest dust is concentrated north-northeast of Phoenix.

Meteorologists classify the dust storm that struck Phoenix as a haboob . Strong winds blowing downward and outward from thunderstorms stir dust in arid areas. The walls of dust usually envisioned when thinking of severe dust storms are haboobs.

On the evening of July 5, thunderstorms in eastern and southern Arizona collided, and the strong winds and dry conditions combined to raise dust, the Weather Channel reported. A time lapse video shows thunderheads spreading overhead in concurrence with the dust storm.

Between 8:00 and 8:45 p.m. July 5, the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport shut down, grounding all planes. Some flights were diverted to Tucson or California for landing. The storm also caused power outages throughout the area, AZCentral.com reported.

For the science geek in everyone, Live Science offers a fascinating window into the natural and technological world, delivering comprehensive and compelling news and analysis on everything from dinosaur discoveries, archaeological finds and amazing animals to health, innovation and wearable technology. We aim to empower and inspire our readers with the tools needed to understand the world and appreciate its everyday awe.