Dust Storm Warning Hits Metro Phoenix; FAA Ground Stop at Sky Harbor, 78 Flights Delayed
Phoenix is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona. The National Weather Service issued a dust storm warning for much of the Phoenix metro area shortly after 1 p.m. on October 10, warning that blowing dust could drop visibility to near zero across major highways within seconds. The warning covered portions of Interstate 10, Interstate 17 and U.S. 60, including areas near Avondale, Goodyear, Phoenix and Mesa, until 1:45 p.m.
The Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground stop for flights bound for Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport until 2:30 p.m., with average delays of 36 minutes. As of 1:40 p.m., Sky Harbor's website reported 78 delayed flights and two diversions. An Arizona Department of Transportation traffic camera on I-10 near Perryville Road, west of Phoenix, showed a thick wall of brown dust engulfing the freeway at 12:52 p.m., with highway signs and distant vehicles barely visible.
The weather service said a strong outflow boundary was moving east and northeast at 12:45 p.m., with wind gusts of 35 to 45 mph. The storm developed as moisture associated with Tropical Storm Rachel moved into the Southwest, bringing showers, thunderstorms and gusty winds to parts of Arizona.
The greatest rainfall and impacts are expected Saturday night into Sunday morning as Rachel's remnants approach, passing through Arizona by Sunday evening. Much cooler temperatures will follow: highs on Tuesday and Wednesday may only reach the upper 70s, with Wednesday morning lows dipping into the 50s, before rebounding into the upper 80s later in the week. Motorists encountering blowing dust are urged to pull as far off the roadway as possible, put the vehicle in park, turn off the lights and keep feet off the brakes.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: Junebug172，公有领域（Wikimedia Commons）
