Southern Arizona On High Alert As Blowing Dust And Thunderstorms Expected To Impact Travel From Tucson To Phoenix With Winds Up To 45 Mph

Published on August 14, 2025

Southern Arizona is bracing for a powerful upwind strategy that will bring vulnerable thunderstorms and blowing dust, creating hazardous conditions for recreation and health. The National Weather Service has issued warnings for wide disruptions crossed nan region connected Wednesday afternoon, pinch terrible upwind expected to effect areas specified arsenic Pima County, Southeast Pinal County, and Cochise County betwixt 2 p.m. and 11 p.m.

Blowing Dust and Visibility Threats

The storm’s powerful winds, reaching up to 45 mph, will footwear up a monolithic particulate storm, creating a arena known arsenic a haboob. This aggravated particulate arena will trim visibility to adjacent zero, particularly on awesome roads, including Interstate 10, nan Tucson metro area, and nan way betwixt Tucson and Phoenix. Drivers should expect abrupt visibility drops and beryllium prepared for vulnerable driving conditions.

The particulate large wind will beryllium astir terrible successful Pima and Southeast Pinal counties during nan afternoon, moving eastward toward Cochise County later successful nan day. The National Weather Service powerfully advises travelers to debar driving during nan storm’s highest hours if possible. If driving becomes unavoidable, motorists should propulsion complete to a safe location and move disconnected their lights to forestall accidents caused by debased visibility. Sudden upwind changes and debased visibility tin make it difficult to navigate these engaged routes.

Health Risks and Air Quality Concerns

In summation to nan driving hazards, nan large wind will besides origin a important diminution successful aerial value crossed Southern Arizona. The particulate particles that will beryllium stirred up by nan large wind tin airs superior wellness risks, peculiarly for those pinch respiratory conditions specified arsenic asthma aliases bronchitis. People pinch bosom aliases lung issues should stay indoors to debar inhaling nan harmful particles.

For nan wide population, it’s advised to postpone outdoor activities until aft nan large wind has passed. If you must beryllium outdoors, wearing a disguise aliases covering your look tin thief trim vulnerability to airborne dust. People pinch pre-existing wellness conditions should show aerial value reports intimately and debar strenuous activities successful outdoor spaces.

Ongoing Storm Risks and Recurrent Dust Events

Although nan worst of nan large wind is expected connected Wednesday afternoon, location is simply a precocious likelihood of recurrent particulate storms passim nan week. The National Weather Service is forecasting further storms, pinch a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms connected Thursday. As nan week progresses, nan region whitethorn acquisition much particulate events, and recreation disruptions could continue. It’s basal for residents and travelers to enactment informed astir nan upwind and set plans accordingly.

Tucson Five-Day Weather Forecast

• Wednesday: Blowing particulate and thunderstorms aft 2 p.m., precocious 105°F, debased 79°F
• Thursday: 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms, precocious 103°F, debased 79°F
• Friday: Likely showers pinch thunderstorms, precocious 99°F, debased 76°F
• Saturday: 30% chance of storms, precocious 98°F, debased 75°F
• Sunday: 20% chance of storms, precocious 101°F, debased 78°F

Take Precautions and Stay Safe

Southern Arizona’s residents and visitors should beryllium prepared for vulnerable recreation conditions arsenic nan large wind unfolds. The operation of blowing dust, thunderstorms, and mediocre aerial value will make outdoor activities and recreation particularly hazardous. If possible, debar walking during nan highest hours of nan storm. If you must travel, guarantee your conveyance is prepared for reduced visibility and beryllium fresh to propulsion complete if needed.

For those pinch respiratory issues, it’s important to enactment indoors during nan particulate large wind to debar vulnerability to harmful particles. As nan large wind whitethorn persist into nan pursuing days, make judge to show section upwind updates and set your plans accordingly. Stay informed astir aerial value and imaginable large wind developments, and support your information a apical priority.