Dust storms common? (Phoenix: home, tornado, living)

[dougstech]

After reading articles like the one below, is it common to have these dust storms in the Phoenix metro?

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/10/na...enix.html?_r=1

[lyzzard]

They are more typical during the monsoon season, but it can happen. Nothing to worry about, just educate yourself on what to do if you're driving during one.

[dougstech]

Originally Posted by lyzzard

They are more typical during the monsoon season, but it can happen. Nothing to worry about, just educate yourself on what to do if you're driving during one.

Wasn't really worried about driving (unless it does damage to car). Was more concerned about breathing in that situation. It seems like terrible pollution that would be impossible to breathe if in the middle of one.

[Grannysroost]

Stay home, close windows....make some good food and don't worry about going out until it's over....and there are weather alerts so you can run to the store to get what you need....and they are sporadic. There are more thunderstorms with watches and warnings in other parts of the country compared to these.

PS: You don't want to be driving in one

[Kimballette]

Originally Posted by dougstech

After reading articles like the one below, is it common to have these dust storms in the Phoenix metro?

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/10/na...enix.html?_r=1

They're infrequent, don't last very long, and it's not like a tornado or anything similar. No worries at all.

[observer53]

Originally Posted by dougstech

Wasn't really worried about driving (unless it does damage to car). Was more concerned about breathing in that situation. It seems like terrible pollution that would be impossible to breathe if in the middle of one.

They don't last very long. You just need to get indoors or into a closed car and wait for it to pass. There's usually a thunderstorm right behind it.

[Sugar70]

They are more typical during the monsoon season,
but it can happen. Nothing to worry about,
just educate yourself on what to do if you're driving during one.
thanks...

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[dougstech]

Originally Posted by observer53

They don't last very long. You just need to get indoors or into a closed car and wait for it to pass. There's usually a thunderstorm right behind it.

Thanks. Seems like it's not as big of a threat as I imagined.

[twiggy]

They happen every year and yes it's not good for breathing when you are out in it. It's something you get use to, and you try to stay inside when they happen. They only last about 15 min. at their strongest.
If you are worried about breathing the dust, well, you will breath it all year long. It's everywhere on everything, we don't need a dust storm for that, just a slight wind and there it goes. If you don't like breathing dust this is not a good place to come. We are in a whirling cycle of drought and it creates a lot of dust. LOL Meager monsoon worsens drought

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TH_4lL_DjE Here is my favorite dust storm footage, it's awesome looking but you aren't going to escape the dust no matter where you go when this happens.

[Kimballette]

Originally Posted by twiggy

They happen every year and yes it's not good for breathing when you are out in it. It's something you get use to, and you try to stay inside when they happen. They only last about 15 min. at their strongest.
If you are worried about breathing the dust, well, you will breath it all year long. It's everywhere on everything, we don't need a dust storm for that, just a slight wind and there it goes. If you don't like breathing dust this is not a good place to come.

Agreed. Dust is ever present. Keeping your home dust free is especially challenging here. The desert dirt seeps into the most amazing nooks and crannies of your home. We use air filters in the bedrooms and living room (my husband has asthma), but the dust never ends.