Blowing dust limits visibility again in southern Phoenix area, Pinal County

PHOENIX — A blowing dust advisory was issued Friday for parts of central Arizona as monsoon winds caused visibility issues for a second day.

The National Weather Service advisory was in effect until 1 p.m. for portions of Pinal County and the southern Phoenix metro area.

Blowing Dust Advisory for portions of Pinal County and far southern metro Phx in effect until 1 pm. Expect multiple dust channels in varying locations. Affected roads include Highway 347 and I-10. #PullAsideStayAlive #azwx pic.twitter.com/txajIdLnZo

— NWS Phoenix (@NWSPhoenix) July 6, 2018

Arizona Department of Transportation cameras showed dust-choked skies to the south on State Route 347 near Interstate 10 at around 10 a.m.

Department spokesman Garin Groff said visibility can rapidly drop from very good to “nearly zero” during monsoon season.

“That’s why drivers really need to keep an eye out for what’s ahead of them, and if they see blowing dust really slow down and even think about pulling off the road and stopping before you get to that,” he told KTAR News 92.3 FM.

Our cameras are still seeing wind-blown dust south of the Phoenix area on SR 347 and I-10. Use extra caution driving on roads between the Phoenix area and Casa Grande. #aztraffic #azwx pic.twitter.com/OiGJj2iLp8

— Arizona DOT (@ArizonaDOT) July 6, 2018

On Thursday afternoon, a blowing dust advisory was issued for Maricopa and Pinal counties after a wall of dust approached the southeast Phoenix metro area.

Motorists were urged to drive carefully, as visibility dropped below a mile.

A dust storm warning was issued shortly after 4 p.m. as the storm made its way into the southeast Valley, but it was downgraded to an advisory an hour later.

The dust storm was produced by thunderstorms that developed over much of eastern Arizona, eventually making their way to the Globe area east of Phoenix.

The storms produced 0.3 inches of rain in Globe, while also dropping the temperature from 104 degrees to 78 degrees in 34 minutes, according to the National Weather Service.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Jim Cross contributed to this report.

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