Isolated thunderstorms developed across eastern and southeastern Arizona during the afternoon hours on July 5th. The storms generated gusty outflow winds in excess of 40 mph that spread west-northwestward and into the southeastern portions of the greater Phoenix metropolitan area as well as northwest Pinal County. Due to very dry ground conditions, the gusty winds picked up considerable amounts of dust, generating dust storms conditions lowering visibility well below one quarter of a mile in some locations. Dust storm conditions were reported by trained spotters as well as automated weather sensors. Some communities affected included Queen Creek, Gilbert, Mesa and Casa Grande. A Dust Storm Warning was issued due to the dense blowing dust.

Dust Storm in SOUTHEAST VALLEY/QUEEN CREEK, ARIZONA
From 05-JUL-18 15:50:00 to 05-JUL-18 17:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Isolated high based thunderstorms developed across portions of southeast Arizona during the afternoon hours on July 5th. The storms generated gusty outflow winds estimated to be greater than 50 mph at times; the winds spread to the northwest and moved into the southeast portion of the greater Phoenix area, generating dense blowing dust. According to a trained weather spotter 3 miles southeast of Queen Creek, at 1557MST visibility lowered to less than one quarter of a mile in a dust storm. Additionally, at 1605MST the automated AWOS weather station at Phoenix Mesa Gateway Airport reported visibility below one half mile in a dust storm. A Dust Storm Warning was issued for the area at 1614MST and it ran through 1700MST.

Dust Storm in NORTHWEST PINAL COUNTY, ARIZONA
From 05-JUL-18 16:15:00 to 05-JUL-18 17:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Isolated high based thunderstorms developed across portions of southeast Arizona during the afternoon hours on July 5th. Some of them produced gusty outflow winds in excess of 40 mph that spread northwestward and into portions of northwest Pinal County. The strong winds picked up significant amounts of dust and led to the formation of dust storm conditions. According to the official AWOS weather station located 5 miles northwest of Casa Grande, at 1630MST visibility lowered to one quarter of a mile in a dust storm. A Dust Storm Warning was in effect for the area at the time and it remained in effect through 1700MST.

Dust Storm in EAST VALLEY, ARIZONA
From 05-JUL-18 16:00:00 to 05-JUL-18 17:00:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Isolated thunderstorms developed over portions of southeast Arizona during the afternoon hours on July 5th, and they generated gusty outflow winds estimated to reach or even exceed 50 mph at times. The gusty winds spread to the northwest and into the southeast portion of the greater Phoenix area, picking up large amounts of dust and generating dust storm conditions. At 1621MST a trained spotter located 3 miles southeast of East Mesa reported a dust storm with winds estimated to be greater than 50 mph. Another trained spotter 3 miles northeast of Gilbert reported a dust storm at 1629MST; he indicated visibility had lowered to one quarter of a mile due to blowing dust. A Dust Storm Warning was issued for the area starting at 1614MST and running through 1700MST.