A powerful dust storm and severe thunderstorms swept through metro Phoenix on August 25, leaving behind widespread power outages, toppled trees, and wind damage across the city.
The National Weather Service issued dust storm and severe thunderstorm warnings as the system moved into Maricopa County the same evening. Winds reached up to 70 mph (about 113 km/h), tearing apart a connector bridge at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport and reducing visibility on roads to near zero.
The haboob, a towering wall of dust, struck first, followed by thunderstorms that intensified the destruction. Residents reported damaged property, downed power lines, and extended outages as emergency crews worked through the night to restore services.
There's nothing more harrowing than witnessing a huge wall of sand barreling in from the desert, about to consume everything standing in its way. While most common in dry, arid regions, they sometimes catch cities and temperate areas by surprise.
Browse this gallery and be blown away by these powerful images of intense storms from across the planet.