Arizona monsoon storms bring dust, high winds and airport disruptions to Phoenix

Monsoon activity south of Phoenix produced strong outflow winds and blowing dust on Thursday night, with gusts recorded up to 73 mph at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. The National Weather Service issued a Dust Storm Warning and a blowing‑dust advisory covering much of Arizona, including the East Valley where visibility dropped below a quarter of a mile.

The severe conditions caused thousands of power outages across Maricopa County, flight diversions and two ground stops at the airport, and even a temporary suspension of an Arizona State University football game. Heavy rain, lightning, hail and localized flooding were also reported, with flash‑flood warnings issued south of Casa Grande.

Forecasts call for the active monsoon pattern to continue through the weekend and into next week, with additional strong‑to‑severe thunderstorms expected on Sunday and further blowing‑dust advisories. Temperatures will remain near 108‑109 °F, and residents of Pinal County, southern Maricopa County and the Phoenix metro area are urged to stay prepared for dust, wind and storm hazards.