Phoenix Dust Storm: Arizona Hit With Monstrous 'Haboob' (PHOTOS/VIDEO)

A monstrous dust storm roared through Phoenix, Arizona on Tuesday night, delaying flights and causing power outages for thousands of people.

The AP reports that the massive dust cloud, also known as a "haboob," was around 5,000 feet when it arrived in Phoenix, but radar data reveals that it reached heights anywhere from 8,000 to 10,000 feet high prior. The storm appeared to be around 50 miles wide in some areas, KSAZ-TV reported.

The dust storm originated in Tucson, and was a part of Arizona's monsoon season.

According to CNN, the dust storm prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to issue a ground stop on flights at Phoenix's Sky Harbor Airport for about an hour and 15 minutes. At its peak, the storm left 10,000 customers without power, Jenna Shaver of the Arizona Public Service told CNN.

Check out breathtaking video footage and photos of the massive dust storm that swallowed Phoenix below.

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Comments

[LEON SHISLER]

06:16 PM on 08/05/2011

Just get in touch with Rush. He'll know the causes and how to fix it.

[Bob Judd]

01:56 PM on 07/11/2011

It was spectacular! Too bad I didn't know it would be so huge, I would have gone up to Papago Park to 'Hole in the Rock' which is a great vantage point for these summer monsoon storms. You can get great shots of the whole valley from there. This was a huge one and it seemed to have MUCH more dust than I've ever seen. I ran out during it and it was a deep dark brown with visibility about 20'. I could taste the dust in my teeth, the next week I've spent blowing out the dust and washing it off everything -- what a job!

[Gwendolyn Sherry Kinman]

08:44 PM on 07/10/2011

L@@k out - this is terrible....i have family out there :(

[Warren Mart]

05:02 AM on 07/09/2011

Jan Brewer and McCain will say it was illegals dusting thier rugs

[Denver Eldridge]

06:48 PM on 07/09/2011

It was illegals running for there lives.

[Paul WR]

10:55 AM on 07/10/2011

So who picks your strawberri­es? I agree with TheTruthSa­yer: "Despite being connected to the internet, a lot of people on here seem to live some pretty sheltered lives..." but in the context of this sort of bigotry. I guess you must think you're in some superior dude living in some sophisticat­ed country being able to swing that kind of bigotry around, but you've forgotten what these 'illegals' do for the USA people that USA citizens are not willing to do for themselves­. But those same USA citizens still want to enjoy the benefits. Sheeeeesh!­!! Again, agreeing with TheTruthSayer: "Get a grip, for God's sake." - Get over yourselves.

[Bob Judd]

01:53 PM on 07/11/2011

Those illegals probably even know how to spell, unlike you!

[tomsterx]

04:20 AM on 07/09/2011

I was looking at those pictures, all they are is dust in the wind.

[TheTruthSayer]

01:18 AM on 07/09/2011

Despite being connected to the internet, a lot of people on here seem to live some pretty sheltered lives. This is not some doomsday poison gas cloud, it's neither related to the Mayan calendar, the Bible or the economy. It's a dust storm, in the middle of summer, in a freakin' desert! Get a grip, for God's sake.

[David Fancher]

10:02 PM on 07/08/2011

It looked like someone turned off the Sun!

[David Fancher]

10:00 PM on 07/08/2011

This WAS the mother of all Haboobs! I have never seen one this bad.

[msmelo75]

08:01 PM on 07/08/2011

This scares me just looking @ the photos. It has to be deathly dangerous for folks who suffer respiratory problems...and babies also. What about the food? When the dust/sand enter the home, is it reasonable to believe that it also may enter refrigerators. Are grocery stores/markets able to protect their produce? And what about the animals? Wow, I see a myriad of problems this type storm may cause.

[MagicalPossibilities]

10:17 PM on 07/08/2011

We all survived. It wouldn't be the first and not the last. It's just desert sand, not poisonous or harmful if ingested. I was sitting out on my patio after the storm and it was crunching in my teeth for hours after, and it really annoying when it gets in the eyes. It can cause respiratory problems, but not nearly as much as smoke and smog as the particles are too large to really get into your lungs.

[Bob Judd]

02:04 PM on 07/11/2011

It's not any more dangerous than driving your car on a dirt road. Very little dust actually got inside my house other than what the dogs bring in, so it wasn't bad. The photos just make it LOOK dangerous but it wasn't bad. When I see them coming, I REJOICE because I know they often bring rain which we need so bad!

[SoCaliDem]

04:18 PM on 07/08/2011

I was on a flight into Phoenix when the storm hit. It threw the plane around like it was a toy. Scary experience.

[Max Shaw]

01:47 PM on 07/08/2011

Get Brendan Frasier. He'll know what to do.

[dmodegirl101]

01:31 PM on 07/08/2011

I drove in this dust storm and it was awful! We couldn't see where we were driving. It was 0 visibility. We were afraid of getting hit by a car because you could not see where you were driving. They say to pull over and turn off your lights so cars won't hit you, but that doesn't make sense to me. Anyhow, had a lot of dust inside my house afterwards. I've been in AZ for 15 years and have never seen a dust storm this big before.

[tburickbass]

12:48 PM on 07/08/2011

Looks like the storms that occured in the 1930's during the Dust Bowl Days.
http://coachingyourbestlife.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/dustbowl1.jpg

[bestazpsychics]

09:59 AM on 07/08/2011

What was really scary was being in a helicopter right in front of it and it catching up to us! We got bounced around violently! Scariest thing I have been through.

[Boobuzuela]

08:33 PM on 07/07/2011

It's all part of an enormous Islamic terrorist plot.

First they get us using Islamic words like "Haboob" and next thing you know, our women have to wear burka-stocks!

[OneWordAmerican]

02:59 PM on 07/08/2011

totally agree---the haboob---sounds like boob and they have a fascination with this stuff--or obama created it---becuase the clean up will CREATE JOBS ! right ? isnt it like the stumulas plan

[Warren Mart]

05:04 AM on 07/09/2011

"Stumulas" sounds like you need some first grade remedial education 'bagger

[ItsGoodtobeCajun]

04:36 PM on 07/21/2011

HEH!