[It would be very wrong of Desdemona to connect this with the largest wildfires in Arizona’s recorded history.]

By MARY HUDETZ, Associated Press
6 July 2011 PHOENIX – The air around the Phoenix area was a hazy shade of brown and a layer of dirt coated cars and buildings Wednesday following a massive dust storm the night before. The huge dust wall that crossed the metro Phoenix area Tuesday night drastically reduced visibility, halting all flights coming in and out of Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport until conditions improved. Winds ripped up trees, tossed around lawn furniture and caused hazardous driving conditions.

  A giant dust storm covers Phoenix, Arizona, 5 July 2011. ROB SCHUMACHER / THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC

The storm knocked out power to about 9,400 Salt River Project electric customers, The Arizona Republic reported. […] The dust cloud that moved across the Phoenix valley had formed in an afternoon storm in the Tucson area, and then rolled north across the desert before sweeping over the city like an enormous wave, said National Weather Service meteorologist Paul Iniguez. Radar data showed the storm’s towering dust wall had reached as high as 8,000 to 10,000 feet, or nearly 2 miles, he said. “This was pretty significant,” Iniguez told The Associated Press. “We heard from a lot of people who lived here for a number of storms and this was the worst they’d seen.” […]

Cleanup under way after massive Ariz. dust storm   A dust storm known as a 'habub' rolls into downtown Phoenix on 5 June 2011, bringing strong winds and low visibility. Habubs are part of Arizona's annual monsoon season, which is now in full swing. Amanda Lee Myers / AP Photo

A dust storm known as a ‘habub’ rolls into downtown Phoenix on 5 June 2011, bringing strong winds and low visibility. Habubs are part of Arizona’s annual monsoon season, which is now in full swing. Amanda Lee Myers / AP Photo

Massive dust storm descends on Phoenix area  

The Phoenix Haboob of July 5th, 2011 from Mike Olbinski on Vimeo.

  Massive dust storm descends on Phoenix area   Darkness on 51st Avenue and Baseline Road in Phoenix, Arizona, during a dust storm, 5 July 2011. Pam Hare / kens5.com

Darkness on 51st Avenue and Baseline Road in Phoenix, Arizona. Pam Hare / kens5.com

Huge dust storm slams Phoenix   A huge cloud of dust moved through Phoenix Tuesday evening forcing residents to take cover, 5 July 2011. KPNX / weather.com

Video: A huge cloud of dust moved through Phoenix Tuesday evening forcing residents to take cover, 5 July 2011. KPNX / weather.com

Huge wall of dust sends people scrambling