Arizona’s snowbird season typically doesn’t start up until October. Hot weather isn’t the only reason to push arrival off into autumn: The monsoon season can bring unsettling weather. RVers traveling through Arizona this week got a front-row seat to the kind of monsoon weather that can turn an ordinary drive into a serious challenge.
On Monday, a fierce dust storm, known as a haboob, swept across the Phoenix metropolitan area, leaving dark skies and widespread power outages in its path.
The storm first arrived in Arizona City, about 60 miles southeast of Phoenix, late in the afternoon. Residents described how quickly the wall of dust swallowed up visibility and how intense the winds became. “I couldn’t see my hand in front of my face if I put my hand outside,” said Bernae Boykin Hitesman, who explained that she had to pull over while driving her children home from school. Others in the area reported their cars shaking and dust so thick they could taste it until the storm finally passed after about 15 minutes.
We provide Arizona haboob RV travel safety tips. Read on!
Arizona haboob RV travel safety
Haboobs form when strong thunderstorm winds slam into dry desert areas, kicking up dust and sand. They tend to move quickly, but even a short-lived storm can disrupt travel and daily life. Heavy rain and gusty winds followed this storm and left tens of thousands without electricity. More than 15,000 customers lost power in Maricopa County alone, according to PowerOutage.us.
The storm didn’t just affect those on the road. At Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, operations were disrupted as flights were grounded. A portion of a terminal roof was damaged, forcing crews into cleanup mode. “Crews have been identifying leaks and attempting to clean up water where it has collected in passenger areas,” the airport’s deputy aviation director for public relations said in an email to the Associated Press.
For RVers, the storm offered a clear lesson: Desert weather can arrive with little warning and leave you with few options if you’re caught unprepared. If a haboob or similar dust storm is on the horizon, pull off the roadway. Shutting windows and vents, and waiting it out is often the safest choice. Shut off your headlights, stay off the brake pedal, and don’t use hazard flashers. Vehicles behind you may see your lights, think you’re on the roadway, and slam into you.
These storms may be brief, but their effects—from reduced visibility to power outages—can linger long after the dust clears.
Sources include thehill.com
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RVT1224b
There is more to Arizona than just Phoenix.
Yes there is Ron, but let’s keep it a secret…
Spent eight years soaking in the views, weather, traffic and in my book the worst drivers on the face of the planet in and around Phoenix! The dust storms and heat are mild in comparison to those in the sandbox, but never the less can be dangerous to every breathing thing.
If you encounter a dust (or blowing rocks) storm – be sure to shut down engines and wear a breathing mask or face mask of some sort. Be sure to replace your engine air and cabin filters as soon as possible lest you ingest sand particles into your engine and oil.
Thank you for the news, Russ and Tina! Wow! Amazing! I appreciate the education about a region that I briefly visited for the first and only time 3 years ago. I had no idea. Have a great weekend and safe travels!