My First Phoenix Desert Dust Storm: The Haboob July 5th, 2011
Long time residents are calling this desert storm one of the largest they can remember!
Haboob? That’s what I was thinking. The Middle Eastern term is one for a huge desert storm. And that’s what hit yesterday in the Valley of the Sun, er, today known as the Valley of Dust.
No matter where you live, you probably have heard or seen pictures and video about it. This was my first experience of this weird type of storm.
They were still talking about it today on the news. It was big. Apparently this thing got going from Tucson and just grew from there.
The fact that this thing covered the valley is impressive. As you may know, I’ve walked across the valley and one of the impressions of doing that is that the valley is BIG. This storm was bigger. Epic as the newscast labels it!
There are so many videos on youtube recording the moment … I kind of like this guy’s report:
Amazing how dark it turns the day. I went out briefly into it as it hit the area I live and you immediately get a face, eye, and mouthful of sand.
So, my impression? The Haboob’s bark is worse than its bite. Now I should admit that by the time it had hit the North Valley, the winds had weakened and it was more of a nuisance because everything was covered in dirt. It is a very eery kind of thing. But it doesn’t really compare to other types of weather phenomenon. I mean, how many people stand in the direct path of a tornado and record it …. and live to tell about it! Colorado blizzards are far more dangerous. Hurricanes too.
I have now experienced AND survived my first Phoenix dust storm. I am proud to have all the long time residents talking about its epic nature. For me, it really is just a dirty mess.
A BLACK asphalt parking lot the day after the 2011 Phoenix Dust Storm.
I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but this is the same Phoenix that sent reporters out live shortly after I moved here to cover the areas weather when the valley was experiencing … wind. Yep, it was epic.











