The week at a glance...United States

United States

Phoenix

Massive dust storm: A 50-mile-wide wall of dust, pushed by gusts of up to 80 mph, blackened the skies above the Phoenix area last week. The storm blotted out skyscrapers and knocked down power lines, leaving thousands of homes without electricity and temporarily grounding all flights out of the Sky Harbor Airport. “I have seen dust storms before, but this was like the old Dust Bowl days,” said one area resident. The dust storm, called a haboob, originated in the Tucson area and swept north across the desert into the Phoenix Valley, said the National Weather Service, reaching nearly two miles into the sky. Haboobs are not uncommon in Arizona, but this storm was of “historic” proportions, said witnesses and weather experts. Last week’s sandstorm marks the beginning of Arizona’s monsoon season, which usually starts in mid-June and continues through the end of September.

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