A massive wall of dust swept across metro Phoenix, Arizona plunged the city into near-darkness, forced power cuts and halted flights at the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, on Monday.
The storm — a haboob , triggered by collapsing thunderstorms and fierce winds, left about 39,000 residents without electricity, mostly in Maricopa County, officials said.
Visibility dropped to just a quarter-mile, sending motorists scrambling through blinding winds and heavy rain.
More than 2 million people in and around Phoenix were under a dust storm warning Monday afternoon, as the National Weather Service cautioned of plunging visibility and winds topping 50 mph.
By around 7 pm local time, the dust cloud had moved north over Black Canyon City, before the warning was lifted later in the evening.
Many residents shared video of the giant dust storm. Online users reacted to the rare scene as a set from Hollywood. "This is literally a scene from The Mummy,” one user posted, sharing a video of the towering wall of dust rolling across the desert.
Forecasters warned of more monsoon-linked disruptions. “That’s typical for a monsoon, very hit and miss,” said Mark O’Malley, a National Weather Service meteorologist.
Phoenix, unusually dry this season, faces a 40% chance of rain on Tuesday, according to forecasts. The state’s transport department, meanwhile, issued a stark warning to drivers on X: “Don’t drive into a dust storm. If you’re on the road when one hits, PULL ASIDE, STAY ALIVE!”
The storm — a haboob , triggered by collapsing thunderstorms and fierce winds, left about 39,000 residents without electricity, mostly in Maricopa County, officials said.
Visibility dropped to just a quarter-mile, sending motorists scrambling through blinding winds and heavy rain.
🚨BREAKING: Massive dust storm engulfs Southwest Phoenix, Arizona.
— The Patriot Oasis™ (@ThePatriotOasis) August 26, 2025
A scene straight out of the mummy. pic.twitter.com/RHXNZnrmLd
More than 2 million people in and around Phoenix were under a dust storm warning Monday afternoon, as the National Weather Service cautioned of plunging visibility and winds topping 50 mph.
By around 7 pm local time, the dust cloud had moved north over Black Canyon City, before the warning was lifted later in the evening.
Many residents shared video of the giant dust storm. Online users reacted to the rare scene as a set from Hollywood. "This is literally a scene from The Mummy,” one user posted, sharing a video of the towering wall of dust rolling across the desert.
Forecasters warned of more monsoon-linked disruptions. “That’s typical for a monsoon, very hit and miss,” said Mark O’Malley, a National Weather Service meteorologist.
Phoenix, unusually dry this season, faces a 40% chance of rain on Tuesday, according to forecasts. The state’s transport department, meanwhile, issued a stark warning to drivers on X: “Don’t drive into a dust storm. If you’re on the road when one hits, PULL ASIDE, STAY ALIVE!”
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