Monsoon thunderstorms developed across the south central deserts, including the greater Phoenix metropolitan area, during the evening hours on August 8th. The stronger storms produced gusty outflow winds well in excess of 40 mph; as is typically the case the strong winds stirred up significant amounts of dust which led to episodes of dense blowing dust and dust storm conditions. During the evening hours there were a number of trained spotters as well as members of the public reporting dust storms, with visibility values ranging from one quarter mile to zero miles in the dense blowing dust. In one instance, at about 1940MST a member of the public reported traffic at a standstill on the Loop 101 Freeway at Thomas road, in part due to near zero visibility in blowing dust. Fortunately, no accidents or injuries were reported due to the severely restricted visibility.

Dust Storm in BUCKEYE/AVONDALE, ARIZONA
From 08-AUG-18 19:30:00 to 08-AUG-18 20:45:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Thunderstorms with gusty outflow winds moved across the western portion of the greater Phoenix area during the evening hours on August 8th. The stronger storms generated outflow winds in excess of 40 mph which stirred up areas of blowing dust and created dust storm conditions that affected the town of Buckeye. According to a trained weather spotter located 3 miles northeast of Buckeye, at 1938MST visibility fell below one quarter of a mile in a dust storm. The dense blowing dust occurred near the intersection of Broadway Road and Watson Road. A Dust Storm Warning was issued at 1940MST but the warning was for an area just to the east of where the dense blowing dust was actually observed.

Dust Storm in EAST VALLEY, ARIZONA
From 08-AUG-18 19:30:00 to 08-AUG-18 20:45:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Thunderstorms with gusty outflow winds moved through the central and eastern portions of the greater Phoenix area during the evening hours on August 8th. The stronger storms generated outflow winds in excess of 40 mph which stirred up significant amounts of dust and generated dust storm conditions that affected east valley communities such as Guadalupe and Tempe. Multiple trained spotters reported visibility at or below one quarter of a mile, generally between 1940MST and 2000MST. At 1945MST a trained spotter 3 miles southwest of Guadalupe reported visibility below one quarter of a mile in blowing dust along Interstate 10 between Ray Road and Chandler Boulevard. Another trained spotter 3 miles southeast of Guadalupe reported visibility down to one tenth of a mile in a dust storm near the intersection of Rural Road and Warner Road. A Dust Storm Warning was issued for the area beginning at 1940MST and it continued until 2045MST. No accidents were reported due to the severely restricted visibility.

Dust Storm in SCOTTSDALE/PARADISE VALLEY, ARIZONA
From 08-AUG-18 19:20:00 to 08-AUG-18 20:30:00 (MST-7)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Thunderstorms with gusty outflow winds moved across the central portion of the greater Phoenix area during the evening hours on August 8th; the stronger storms generated gusty outflow winds in excess of 40 mph. The gusty winds stirred up areas of blowing dust which resulted in dust storm conditions. At 1939MST, a public report indicated that the Loop 101 Freeway was at a standstill at Thomas Road. This was due in part to visibility that dropped to zero miles in a dust storm. The dust storm was about 2 miles southeast of Scottsdale. At about the same time, a trained spotter 2 miles northeast of Arizona State University reported visibility down to one quarter of a mile in a dust storm. No reports of accidents or injuries were received despite the severely restricted visibility and hazardous driving conditions.