Dust storm smothers Phoenix (garden, move to, pool)

[Newsboy]

This was all over the national news tonight. How often does this happen?

Towering Dust Storm Smothers Phoenix Area - NBC News

[LBTRS]

Quite often during the monsoon season. Sometimes we have them multiple days in a row when storms are blowing through. Some years are worse than others.

[AlohaFriday]

Anywhere from one to three times a year on average, according to I think the national weather service. I was just reading about it. That's the haboobs.

[LBTRS]

Originally Posted by AlohaFriday

Anywhere from one to three times a year on average, according to I think the national weather service. I was just reading about it. That's the haboobs.

I've been here since 2008 and have had to get out of my pool in the evening much more than 1 to 3 times a year due to a dust storm coming through. I've not counted them but that seems like a low number. Last year was better than some other years, however, I would think the average is higher than that for "dust storms".

[PoppySead]

Until the last couple of years this wasn't a big deal on a national level. I think our new coverage is fun for the reporters but it's nothing new around here. It looks a lot worse than it is in my opinion. Just one of many.
The weather reporters sure do have a good time with it though.
I do hope everyone who could got inside until it passed. This was a big one, but from the ground they pretty much all feel the same. We can't see how big it is until we see the sky valley photo of it.

[Newsboy]

Originally Posted by PoppySead

Until the last couple of years this wasn't a big deal on a national level. I think our new coverage is fun for the reporters but it's nothing new around here. It looks a lot worse than it is in my opinion. Just one of many.
The weather reporters sure do have a good time with it though.
I do hope everyone who could got inside until it passed. This was a big one, but from the ground they pretty much all feel the same. We can't see how big it is until we see the sky valley photo of it.

Which is?

And to think, people with breathing problems used to move to Arizona for relief ...

[Snort]

This is the charm of the "Valley of the Sun". 116 Fahrenheit and dirt in the air to take into your lungs.

[Jukesgrrl]

Originally Posted by PoppySead

Until the last couple of years this wasn't a big deal on a national level. I think our new coverage is fun for the reporters but it's nothing new around here. It looks a lot worse than it is in my opinion. Just one of many.
The weather reporters sure do have a good time with it though.
...

They like to say the word "haboob."

[exit2lef]

Much ado about nothing. I was out riding my bike when the dust storm arrived tonight and didn't feel smothered as I returned to base. In fact, I welcomed the breeze and the cooler temperatures. Also, a lot of media outlets are really going overboard with the word "haboob." It was used for the first time in my memory back in 2011 to describe a storm that was much bigger than normal. Since then, reporters have been misusing the term to describe garden variety dust storms like the one we experienced tonight.

[esiebert7625]

We never get any of the fun on the NW side of the valley, the SE side seems to be the dust storm magnet.