Scattered thunderstorms developed across the south-central Arizona deserts, including the greater Phoenix area, during the afternoon and evening hours on July 9th. The storms generated strong and gusty outflow winds in excess of 50 mph at times. The gusty winds generated widespread dense blowing dust which led to numerous dust storms across the lower deserts. Some of the dust storms affected the greater Phoenix metropolitan area, others impacted open country to the west, southwest and southeast of the Phoenix area. In many cases visibility was lowered well below one quarter of a mile in dense blowing dust. Fortunately no accidents or injuries were reported due to the dust storms.

Dust Storm in SOUTHEAST VALLEY/QUEEN CREEK, ARIZONA
From 09-JUL-18 15:15:00 to 09-JUL-18 15:45:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Thunderstorms developed across the south-central deserts during the afternoon hours on July 9th; some of the stronger storms produced gusty outflow winds that generated dense blowing dust and dust storm conditions. The dust storm conditions impacted the southeastern portion of the greater Phoenix area. At 1519MST, a trained spotter 5 miles north of Mesa-Gateway Airport reported visibility down to 200 feet in a dust storm and this was near the intersection of Crismon and Baseline Roads. At the same time, the official AWOS weather station at the airport measured a visibility of one quarter mile in a dust storm. A Dust Storm Warning was in effect at the time; it was issued at 1519MST and was in effect until 1545MST. No accidents were reported due to the severely restricted visibility.

Dust Storm in GILA BEND, ARIZONA
From 09-JUL-18 17:30:00 to 09-JUL-18 18:45:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Thunderstorms developed across the deserts southwest of Phoenix during the early evening hours on July 9th; some of the stronger storms generated gusty outflow winds that generated dense blowing dust and associated dust storm conditions. At 1815MST a member of the public reported near zero visibility in dense blowing dust; he was located 3 miles northeast of Gila Bend and along Highway 85 just north of the Gila Bend Municipal Airport. Not long after, at 1842MST, another public report of dense blowing dust was received along Interstate 8 about 1 mile southeast of the town of Sentinel in far southwest Maricopa County. Visibility was reduced to 100 feet in a dust storm as seen in a social media video. A Dust Storm Warning was issued for the Gila Bend area at 1727MST and it remained in effect until 1830MST. A second Dust Storm Warning was issued for the area near Sentinel at 1832MST and it was in effect until 1930MST.

Dust Storm in TONOPAH DESERT, ARIZONA
From 09-JUL-18 17:25:00 to 09-JUL-18 19:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Thunderstorms developed over the lower deserts to the southwest of Phoenix during the early evening hours on July 9th; some of the stronger storms produced gusty outflow winds that stirred up significant amounts of blowing dust leading to dust storm conditions. At 1731MST, a trained spotter 7 miles northeast of Wintersburg reported visibility down to one quarter of a mile in dense blowing dust; the dust storm was near the intersection of 339th Avenue and Indian School Road. Later in the evening, another trained spotter 10 miles north of Gila Bend, near Highway 85, reported visibility lowered to 100 feet in a dust storm. This occurred at 1855MST. A Dust Storm Warning had been issued for the area at 1727MST and the warning was in effect through 1830MST.

Dust Storm in NORTH PHOENIX/GLENDALE, ARIZONA
From 09-JUL-18 16:30:00 to 09-JUL-18 17:15:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Thunderstorms developed over portions of the central deserts during the afternoon hours on July 9th; the stronger storms developed gusty outflow winds that stirred up blowing dust and created dust storm conditions affecting the greater Phoenix area. Dust storm conditions were reported by two trained spotters in the northwest portion of the greater Phoenix area; at 1709MST one of the trained spotters 3 miles northwest of Tolleson reported visibility down to one quarter of a mile in dense blowing dust. This occurred just north of Interstate 10. Similar visibility values were reported by the second trained spotter further to the north, situated about 3 miles northeast of Peoria. A Dust Storm Warning was not in effect at the time of these reports.

Dust Storm in NORTHWEST VALLEY, ARIZONA
From 09-JUL-18 17:15:00 to 09-JUL-18 18:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Thunderstorms developed over the central deserts, including the greater Phoenix area, during the late afternoon hours on July 9th and some of the storms produced gusty outflow winds that stirred up blowing dust and created dust storm conditions. At 1524MST a trained spotter located 9 miles southwest of Wittmann reported that visibility had lowered to one quarter of a mile in dense blowing dust. A Dust Storm Warning was not in effect at the time for the area.

Dust Storm in EAST VALLEY, ARIZONA
From 09-JUL-18 15:45:00 to 09-JUL-18 16:15:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Thunderstorms developed across portions of the south-central deserts during the afternoon hours on July 9th, and some of the stronger storms produced gusty outflow winds that stirred up significant amounts of dust, leading to dust storm conditions that affected the East Valley. Multiple trained spotters reported dust storm conditions at about 1611MST. One trained spotter, located 2 miles south of the town of Guadalupe, reported visibility down to 50 yards in a dust storm. The second spotter, located 2 miles east of Tempe, reported visibility below one quarter of a mile in dense blowing dust near the intersection of the Loop 101 and the Loop 202 freeways. A Dust Storm Warning was in effect at the time; it was issued at 1545MST and it remained in effect through 1615MST. No accidents were reported due to the severely restricted visibility.

Dust Storm in NORTHWEST PINAL COUNTY, ARIZONA
From 09-JUL-18 16:00:00 to 09-JUL-18 17:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Strong thunderstorms developed across the central deserts, including portions of northwest Pinal County, during the afternoon hours on July 9th. The storms generated gusty outflow winds that stirred up significant blowing dust leading to dust storm conditions. Beginning shortly after 1600MST, several reports were received from the public and trained spotters that indicated visibility had fallen below one quarter of mile in a dust storm. At 1607MST, a trained spotter north of San Tan Valley reported visibility down to 100 yards near the intersection of Gary Road and the Hunt Highway. At 1615MST, another trained spotter 7 miles south of Sacaton reported dense blowing dust lowering visibility to 100 feet near Interstate 10. Just 5 minutes earlier, the public reported similar visibility 2 miles northeast of Casa Grande, and at 1617MST a trained spotter 5 miles northeast of Arizona City reported visibility down to 1/16 of a mile in a dust storm. No accidents were reported due to the severely restricted visibility. A Dust Storm Warning was issued for the area beginning at 1613MST and it remained in effect until 1715MST.