A dust storm with winds up to 40 mph swept through the Phoenix area Tuesday.
Serious haboob moving toward Phoenix
Sometimes called "haboobs," derived from the Arabic word for "wind" or "blow," these storms occur when air is pushed down and forward by a traveling thunderstorm cell, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Dust storm now moving into the east valley engulfing the #Superstitions! Vis could lower to less than 1/4 mile! #azwx
Tuesday's storm traveled northwest through the suburbs of Phoenix.
View of dust cloud from #ABC15 viewer Vee Morgan http://t.co/GpoEntppOG
It reached downtown Phoenix at about 6 p.m. Arizona time.
Large haboob darkens downtown Phoenix as dust storm rolls in. Live video: http://t.co/0G3nEEUHKY
Here's what it looked like from a plane leaving Phoenix Sky Harbor airport.
Slipping up up and away from Sky Harbor and the approaching #duststorm
Authorities said the dust storm was blamed for five non-injury crashes on Interstate 10 north of Picacho Peak.
Another Arizona Haboob today #Craziness #Arizona
The storms can greatly reduce visibility, and motorists are encouraged to pull over to the side of the road during them.
It's #haboob time
A drone in Gilbert, Arizona, captured aerial video of the massive storm.
