What is a Haboob? A Giant Dust Storm Hitting Phoenix

Liputan6.com, Jakarta A haboob, a highly intense dust or sand storm, is now making headlines in desert regions like Phoenix, Arizona.

These storms form when strong winds from a weather front or thunderstorm sweep fine particles from the ground, creating a giant, fast-moving wall of dust.

Known by its name, derived from the Arabic word "habūb," meaning "to blow" or "to drift," a haboob can drastically reduce visibility within minutes.

In August 2025, Phoenix was again struck by a major haboob, causing widespread power outages and damage to public facilities.

A haboob is a type of powerful dust or sand storm, often driven by the strong winds of a weather front or thunderstorm.

According to American Meteorogical Society, the name "haboob" itself comes from the Arabic word "habūb," which literally means "to blow" or "to drift," describing the main characteristics of these storms.

These storms form from the weakening winds of a thunderstorm or heavy rain.

As the downdraft from the storm reaches the ground, it sweeps up loose sand, mud, and dry soil from the desert, forming a suspended wall of sediment.

This wall of dust can stretch up to 100 kilometers wide and reach several kilometers high, moving at wind speeds of 35–100 km/h.

WALL OF DUST: Incredible SkyFox video of the massive dust storm making its way through Queen Creek and on the edge of Chandler, Ariz. @NicoleK_Fox10 is live right now in the heart of the haboob.@FOX10Phoenix pic.twitter.com/ufxnc8ArH6

— Trenton Hooker (@trentonhooker) August 26, 2025

Phoenix, Arizona, is one of the locations most frequently affected by haboobs due to its location in a vast, dry desert region.

This phenomenon is most common in Arizona during the summer monsoon season, which typically lasts from July to mid-September.

Each year, Phoenix typically experiences between one and three major haboobs, which can impact city activity.

The region's geographic and climatic conditions are highly conducive to the formation of these giant dust storms.

On August 25, 2025, a massive haboob struck the Phoenix, Arizona, area, causing significant disruption.

This massive dust storm reduced visibility to nearly zero and forced many drivers to pull off major highways like I-10 and I-17.

The incident left thousands of homes without power, with approximately 39,000 people in Arizona experiencing outages, mostly in Maricopa County, which includes Phoenix.

The storm's winds reached speeds above 40 mph, adding to the severity of the impact.

In addition to the power outages, the haboob also caused damage to public facilities, including the roof of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

A haboob storm reduced visibility to a quarter of a mile across the Phoenix metropolitan area, but it had improved by Monday evening.

Phoenix was drier than usual for the summer rainy season, while parts of southeastern and north-central Arizona received significant rain, said Mark O'Malley, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Phoenix.

“But that’s typical for a monsoon, very hit and miss,” he said.

The forecast for metro Phoenix calls for a 40% chance of rain Tuesday before drying out, O’Malley said.

The Arizona Department of Transportation wrote in a post on the social platform X that people should not drive into a dust storm, “But if you’re on the road when one hits, PULL ASIDE, STAY ALIVE!”

Haboobs can be extremely dangerous due to their ability to drastically reduce visibility and the potential for damage.

Therefore, it's important to know the proper safety measures during a dust storm.

If you're indoors, be sure to close all doors and windows tightly.

Use wet towels to plug any gaps to prevent dust from entering, and turn off your air conditioning unit or HVAC system to prevent debris from entering the system.

For drivers caught on the road, immediately reduce speed and find a safe place to pull over as far as possible.

Turn off all vehicle lights, including hazard lights, to avoid confusing other drivers who might try to follow your lights.

Stay inside your vehicle with your seatbelt fastened until visibility improves, and never get out of your vehicle, as your car is your best shelter.