US

Haboob Two: Second Giant Dust Storm Engulfs Arizona During Rush Hour

PHOENIX (AP) — A giant wall of dust rolled through the Phoenix area on Monday, turning the sky brown, creating dangerous driving conditions and delaying some airline flights.

The dust, also known as a haboob in Arabic and around Arizona, formed in Pinal County and headed northeast, reaching Phoenix at about 5:30 p.m.

The dust wall was about 3,000 feet high and created winds of 25 to 30 mph, with gusts of up to 40 mph, said Austin Jamison, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. Visibility was down to less than a quarter-mile in some areas, he said.

“You have suddenly very poor visibilities that come on with all the dense dust in the air,” he said. “With poor visibilities, that makes for dangerous driving conditions and that’s arguably the biggest impact.”

There were no immediate reports of accidents on roadways because of the storm, which began to clear within an hour of moving in. The Arizona Department of Public Safety did not immediately return a request for information about road conditions.

Some departing flights at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport were delayed because of the storm, said airport spokeswoman Julie Rodriguez.

Incoming flights from nearby cities including Los Angeles were being held until the storm cleared, she said. She did not know how many flights were delayed or whether any were canceled.

Another giant dust storm in Arizona caught worldwide attention on July 5. That storm brought a mile-high wall of dust that halted airline flights, knocked out power for hundreds of people and turned swimming pools into mud pits.

Jamison said Monday’s storm was not as powerful or as large as the last one, and didn’t last as long.

“It’s kind of like a ripple in a pond where it spreads out, slows down and fades out,” he said.

Rodriguez said visibility at the airport was better Monday than it was during the July 5 storm, which grounded flights for 45 minutes.

“It’s not as bad as it was,” she said. “It‘s reduced but it’s not terrible.”

Weather officials say haboobs only happen in Arizona, the Sahara desert and parts of the Middle East because of dry conditions and large amounts of sand.

Pollution levels skyrocket during dust storms and create even more breathing problems for people with asthma and other similar conditions.

The dust also brings increases in a disease known as Valley Fever, a fungal pneumonia. Valley Fever thrives in the hot and arid Southwest in dirt found just a few feet beneath the earth’s surface; it can be stirred up by construction, wind and other activity.

—

Associated Press writer Michelle Price contributed to this report.

Comments (79)

1 2
  • Broish
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 11:25am

    Ive lived in Phoenix for over 20 years & I never heard of a haboob till a few weeks ago. We get these dust storms regularly & its just that a dust storm. Since I don’t live in the middle east or ride a camel ill stay simple minded with my limited vocabulary & continue to call them dust storms.

    Report Post »  
    • CCRYDER
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 11:58am

      I lived in Arizona for five years and never heard a dust storm described by the arabic word – do you suppose the oh-so-politically correct news bureaus in Arabia call their haboobs dust storms in deference to our sensibilities here? Not.

      Report Post »  
    • Uncle Tom
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 1:15pm

      Don’t be so sensitive, guys. This is clearly more than a “dust storm”, so they borrowed a name for it from a place where massive dust storms are common. Plus, haboob is much more fun to say.

      Report Post » Uncle Tom  
    • orkydorky
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 1:40pm

      They used to be dust storms , now since the infiltration of Islam they are Haboobs, these news people need to get a life and quit trying to force this sh^t down our throats. I‘m not into Haboobs and I’m certainly not into soccer! You can’t change a cowboy, don’t even try!

      Report Post » orkydorky  
    • Marci
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 2:00pm

      But Broish–they have to push the global warming theory! I live in the area too. I have NEVER heard it called a haboob. They use that to keep people talking. No doubt, it will be mentioned in G.W. theories going forward. And it’s a given—we are in an arid dusty place. If we get monsoon winds and rains, this is what we get.

      Report Post » Marci  
    • Ruler4You
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 3:58pm

      I lived in Phoenix for 10 years. These are not uncommon.

      Report Post » Ruler4You  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 4:21am

      The usage of the word “haboob” is from a weatherman in the state here back in the 70s from what I understand; he used to call the monsoon dust storms that phrase all the time until his bosses got after him as they wanted it saved for the worst of the dust storms.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
  • Drum Man
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 11:12am

    Dust Storm. It was more like “blowing mud” in Glendale…

    Report Post » Drum Man  
  • ThomasUSA
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 11:07am

    That’s two Boobs Arizona has had now.. does that mean Arizona has the biggest boobs in the nation? Or is Nevada still leader with the biggest boob – Harry Reid?

    Report Post » ThomasUSA  
  • mgillaspie
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 10:58am

    haboob, Please, who in the hell calls a dust storm a haboob. Only people who are trying to Islamicise America. No go. It’s a dust storm. Never even heard of such a word, the media stops at nothing to change our society.

    Report Post »  
    • mossbrain
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 11:43am

      I agree completely. There is big money being spent behind the scenes by rich Arabs to Islamitize the world.

      Report Post » mossbrain  
    • Uncle Tom
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 1:32pm

      Hey mgillaspie, when mossbrain agrees with you, that means you’ve said something stupid. Just a little FY for your I.

      Report Post » Uncle Tom  
  • James
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 10:41am

    Just so you who donot live in Arizona know, we who do have been calling these dust storms, a dust storm!! Born and raized here and it is a “dust storm.“ Only a ”boob“ would call it a ”haboob.”

    Report Post »  
  • SCARY
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 10:41am

    What?
    :)

    Report Post »  
  • Dustin75
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 10:32am

    They use the arabic language you idiots because they have been on earth longer and the language has been around longer than english.

    Report Post » Dustin75  
    • Yeah_Buddy
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 12:12pm

      What boob calls a dust storm haboob? I have no problem with using arabic terms/language…in arabia. Word.

      Report Post »  
  • azsmitty
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 10:09am

    He// folks it was a freakin dust storm, they occur here in Arizona on a regular basis. The pointee headed intellectuals reading the weather report want to sound sophisticated, in reality they come across as “dweebs”. The art of communication is………..relating information in a manner that is understandable to all. Yelling haboob to alert people of an impending blackout due to blowing sand is about a logical as shouting conflageration instead of fire to alert theater patrons of impending danger.

    Report Post »  
    • wise grandma
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 10:18am

      I use to live in Arizona in the summer you have a dust storm about every day. I think these people should report news instead of stupid stuff. The news media is just one big joke to bad no one is laughing. They would be good stand up commidians if it wasn’t for the fact we really need them to report the news.

      Report Post »  
    • Uncle Tom
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 1:35pm

      Really grandma? You had 3,000 foot walls of dust every day in the summer? Crazy!

      Report Post » Uncle Tom  
  • Tahriria4Life
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 9:41am

    The same reason we use ‘tsunami’ for ‘massive tidal wave’ is the reason we can use ‘haboob’ for ‘massive dust/sand storm’, ‘tornado’ for ‘spiral cloud of high winds and intensity’, ‘derecho’ for ‘massive horizontal bow shaped storm front’. Usually we use words from other countries to describe natural phenomenon, usually due to these countries experiencing such phenomenon more often than us. In this case, the middle east deals with Haboob type storms all the time. Naturally, as is characteristic of the English language, we borrow that word to describe the same kind of phenomenon in our country. Not really a big deal.

    The only time I‘d get upset about another language’s influence on ours is if one day we start changing the way we conjugate our verbs, or genderize every noun, or worse, start using the subjunctive as a separate verb tense. -shudders- Seriously, I’d be the first to throw a fit.

    Report Post » Tahriria4Life  
    • tadroid
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 9:54am

      Honestly, I couldn’t agree with you more. Haboob is a very easy word to say and understand, and it conjures up the correct image. Dust storm can mean any variety of wind and dust combinations including dust devils and storm surges over dry land. Besides, I get a chuckle everytime someone says “haboob”, my 7th grader giggles and says “He said ‘boob’!”

      Report Post » tadroid  
    • Uncle Tom
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 1:37pm

      “my 7th grader giggles and says “He said ‘boob’”

      I giggle and say the same thing to my wife. You’re never too old to think “boob” is a funny word.

      Report Post » Uncle Tom  
  • notmeatglennbeckdotcom
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 9:41am

    I was watching the Weather Channel during the 1st AZ Dust Storm and they talked up the “h” word. My wife and I looked at each other and said “you’ve got to be kidding me.”

    Like others, I have NEVER heard this term before now. So if there’s a Blizzard in Afghanistan country, do they call it a Blizzard or a “ColdBoob”?

    Notice how Obama always says “POCK-EE-STAHN”, but never says AHF-GHAN-EE-STAHN? He tries to be all politically correct and is as inconsistent as every other liberal.

    I have little one’s at home. We were watching the Disney Junior the other day. Special Agent OSO is supposed to help a girl with a problem and while parachuting into her house he looks down and says, “Look Minarets” as he flies over a Mosque. We have never witnessed any mention of a Church, a Temple or any Western religious artifact on this show, but it’s okay to make Muslim references.

    WAKE UP PEOPLE – HELL IS COMING!

    Report Post »  
  • Rajabear1
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 9:37am

    Good grief!!! I’m 42 yrs old and have lived in Az since I was 9 mos old and we have had DUST STORMS every monsoon season. It was never called a “Haboob” until a couple of weeks ago when the national news picked up the story of our latest large dust storm. Why they are now trying to put some sort of international Arab spin to it is ridiculous and it makes me even more nuts when our local news starting using the term. These dust storms are not new or different, just the technology to record them are. Nothing like trying to get everyone one all riled up over “extreme weather” patterns. Al Gore—is that you????

    Report Post »  
  • K-Bird
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 9:15am

    I am a third generation Arizonan. These ‘dust storms’ happen ALL THE TIME during the monsoon summer storms. As kids, we would run out into the street and watch them roll in at night. They never last for more than an hour and are usually followed by thunder, lightening, rain, etc…and are accompanied by high winds. The Sky Harbor Airport usually has to shut down for an hour or so, and in school, kids are taught specifically how to drive in dust storm conditions. I have NEVER heard the word ‘Haboob’ except for here at the Blaze. I really think these storms need to stop getting national attention.

    Report Post »  
  • million
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 9:13am

    Obama is the biggest Ha-Boob of all time. Take the time to help dethrone the monster. Sign the Allen West for President petition now! Time is short.

    http://allenwest2012.ning.com/

    Report Post » million  
  • Texas Hills Patriot
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 9:05am

    Very disappointing. Why exactly is The Blaze calling this a “haboob”? Their own spell checker doesn’t even recognize the dang word. We call it a dust storm here in the U.S. So, now The Blaze is trying to be so “inclusive” that they use Arabic words to describe events happening in the United States.

    Report Post » Texas Hills Patriot  
    • the wireworker
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 11:26am

      Just my take, The headlines read “haboob two” i think that is just in reference to what the weather officials called it. (sensationalism) the main body of the story called it a storm. again in short just my take.

      Report Post » the wireworker  
  • UBETHECHANGE
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 9:05am

    @ONEREPUBLIC4US so the Christians can say these are the end of days.

    Report Post »  
  • Jack007
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 9:01am

    Reminiscent of the 1930′s Dust Bowl; Damn I hate Dust in my Cheerio’s

    Report Post » Jack007  
  • cntrlfrk
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 8:32am

    Haboobies!!!

    ‘

    Report Post » cntrlfrk  
    • love the kids
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 8:38am

      I hear that 1.5 million illegal Immigrants have already filed a lawsuit against Arz. for not protecting them. The Federal Govt. is also backing the lawsuit.

      Report Post »  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 8:22am

    Yep, once again we have been visited here in Phoenix by the “Great Haboob” that moves across the city twice in a row…indeed it is just a massive and short lived dust storm.
    http://artinphoenix.com/gallery/grimm

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • one years food ration like glenn says
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 8:33am

      Global warming, right Al ?

      Report Post » one years food ration like glenn says  
    • Gerrymanderer
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 9:02am

      Um, Phoenix is in the middle of a desert. Expect sand storms. But one day the H2O will run out and Phoenix, Vegas, Scottsdale etc. will all be ghost towns. So keep on watering your golf courses Scottsdale, California keep on taking the Colorado rivers waters to grow fruit, and make sure you fill up your swimming pools Tuscon – without the rationing of water they will all be ghost towns. The ONLY thing that will save them is if it snows hard in the western Rockies. Be careful.

      Report Post » Gerrymanderer  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 10:41am

      Gerymanderer — I live here and do understand the value of our water supply; in the case of those thrice blasted golf courses, they are useless indeed. Make the courses in a desert scape terrain and save all the water they do waste.

      Also one thing you may not be aware of, the Palo Verde power plant is one of the first eco-friendly stations of its kind in this way — the cooling towers are utilizing the waste sewage water from Phoenix to cool the place down.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • RememberMe
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 12:57am

      GERRYMANDERER

      Your post just makes me laugh! You do realize that no water is ever removed or created on earth right? It is all a cycle of precipitation and evaporation… no need to worry if it is in my pool or on my green grass, or my dog drinks it, it all gets evaporated and returned to the earth!

      BTW us people need fruit to survive, so how is it a waste of water to grow fruit in Cali?

      Report Post »  
    • AZBabe
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 11:45am

      I have lived in Arizona for 60 years. I remember back in the 50′s when they used to tell us we were going to run out of water…we haven‘t yet and I don’t think we are going to run out of water any time soon. As long as it rains, we will have water.

      Report Post »  
  • kickagrandma
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 8:18am

    NO more arabic in this newspaper, please…..

    WE ARE AMERICANS, period. You want to speak arabic, go there. “There” starts with an h and end with and l. Trust me, on that point.

    Report Post »  
  • NOTAMUSHROOM
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 8:14am

    Baboon? Haha this is what my spell check said when I typed in “haboob”. How appropriate. Apparently, even spell check speaks ENGLISH! Can you say, “dust storm”? I don’t recall ever learning about the Great Haboob Bowl in the early 20th century.

    This is an English speaking, Christian country! For the love of God why do these idiot journalists keep forcing this Arab crap down our throats?

    Report Post »  
    • UlyssesP
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 8:20am

      A Haboob is a bra for muslim women.

      Report Post » UlyssesP  
    • NOTAMUSHROOM
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 8:29am

      Or maybe a bra for baboons?

      Report Post »  
    • NJTMATO
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 8:33am

      Ha!! Great post!!!! Your spellcheck has a great mind!!!

      Report Post » NJTMATO  
    • UlyssesP
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 8:35am

      In some cases the two might not be mutually exclusive.
      ….I couldn’t help myself.

      Report Post » UlyssesP  
    • Lloyd Drako
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 11:10am

      If you are determined to excise all traces of Arabic from English, then you will have to find Anglo-Saxon substitutes for “alcohol,“ ”algebra,“ ”admiral,“ ”orange,” and dozens of other commonly used words.

      “Haboob” is a most delightful and poetic term for what we used to call a “dust storm.” I hope it becomes common usage, rather as “tsunami” displaced “tidal wave.” I really feel sorry for people who deliberately impoverish their own vocabularies in order to avoid foreign influences.

      Report Post » Lloyd Drako  
    • NOTAMUSHROOM
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 3:53pm

      @Drako

      You really are ATFC, aren’t you?

      Ask the French how they feel about outside cultural influences. Do you feel sorry for your model lilly livered socialist Frenchie French buddies too?

      I speak three languages thank you very much. But I’m not so totally clueless as to think that creeping islamism and anything middle eastern is in any way shape or form a good thing.

      You try so hard to make yourself out to be such an open minded, tolerant, diversity-loving human being who is worthy of great admiration. However, you most definately are not. You are typical of the narcissistic personality that characterizes most on the far far far left. Do yourself a favor and buy a copy of the DSSM, then call for some help. Maybe you’ll get a shrink like Dr. Nidal Hasan.

      Now that would be an eye opening experience for you!

      Report Post »  
    • Lloyd Drako
      Posted on July 20, 2011 at 9:22am

      And I feel especially sorry for you!

      Report Post » Lloyd Drako  
  • Mateytwo Barreett
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 7:58am

    Haboob? Do we REALLY have to go there?!?! I saw the same phenomenon in the plains states in the 50′s. Back then, they were called dust storms. I’m getting just a litte tired of EVERYBODY trying their damndest to get rid of anything that ALLOWS this country to maintain its own identity.i

    Report Post » Mateytwo Barreett  
    • loriann12
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 8:07am

      I thought the same thing, why are we adopting Arabic termonology? It’s a dust storm. I guess the fires burned off all the vegetation and caused this. So we can blame it on whoever started the fires. And Obama doesn’t care if Arizona or Texas burns…..in his eyes, it’s just less conservatives, or an opportunity to turn people to him and his handouts.

      Report Post »  
  • DJR
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 7:55am

    “The dust, also known as a haboob in Arabic.. ” In Americal we call it a dust/sand storm

    Report Post »  
  • teddrunk
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 7:46am

    Dust storm? We have tornadoes here. Kind of a dust storm on steroids. This is no big deal.

    Report Post »  
    • Lloyd Drako
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 11:18am

      The word “tornado” is of Spanish origin.

      Should we call them “twisties?” Otherwise Hispanics might get the idea that the country belongs to them!

      Report Post » Lloyd Drako  
  • OneRepublic4us
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 7:39am

    Dust storms are common during the summer months in Arizona. I’ve lived here all of my life and they really are no big deal. I just have to wonder why all the interest now?

    Report Post » OneRepublic4us  
    • StevenL1955
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 7:55am

      Because now the liberals can use this and say it’s global warming causing it even though they happen every single year and have been for thousands of years. If a fly farts, it’s global warming.

      Report Post » StevenL1955  
    • mgillaspie
      Posted on July 19, 2011 at 11:02am

      they’re interested because they have a new Islamic name to call a dust storm, this is jus so old. THIS IS AMERICA AND IT IS A DUST STORM.

      Report Post »  
  • Fina Biscotti
    Posted on July 19, 2011 at 7:32am

    Scary…..!

    Report Post »  
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