High Winds Force Flight Halts at Phoenix Sky Harbor

About 117 flights were delayed and two were forced to be canceled at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, according to the Federal Aviation Administration , as of 8:20 p.m.

There was a partial ground stop June 2 for incoming aircraft with conditions subject to change with little notice, Sky Harbor Airport spokesperson Eric Everts said.

"We remind passengers to double-check their flight status with their airline before coming to the airport," Everts said.

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An average 85-minute ground delay was reported by the FAA as of 8:12 p.m. and lasting until 10:59 p.m. There was also an arrival delay of 15 minutes, the FAA said.

The National Weather Service issued a dust storm warning starting at 6:11 p.m. and expiring at 6:45 p.m. for some cities southeast of Phoenix in Maricopa and Pinal counties. Blowing dust could result in near-zero visibility for motorists, the warning said.

The weather service said to expect an increase of dust into the area, according to a post on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. A special weather statement was issued for Maricopa County until 7:30 p.m. and included the threat of 40 mph wind and pea-sized hail, the weather service said .

A wall of dust was seen along a line extending from Camelback Mountain to Tempe to near Gilbert Town Hall, moving southwest at 20 mph.

Less than one mile of visibility with strong wind in excess of 40 mph was forecast along with the threat of pea-size hail, according to a special weather statement from the weather service.

A severe thunderstorm was located about 8:22 p.m. near the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, 12 miles southwest of Buckeye, and was nearly stationary, the weather service said. There were 60 mph winds. Buckeye, Palo Verde, Wintersburg, Hassayampa and Arlington also were expected to be affected.

A flash flood warning also was issued through 11:15 p.m. for Goodyear, Buckeye, Palo Verde, Estrella Mountain Ranch, Painted Rock Dam, Arlington, Rainbow Valley and Hassayampa.

For the latest watches and warnings, see our weather alert page .

A "haboob" typically occurs in Arizona during monsoon. From June to September, large dust storms can occur across the state as high winds pick up loose dust.

"Haboob" is an Arabic word that translates to "big, blasting winds." explained Andrew Deemer, a meteorologist from the National Weather Service in Phoenix and former linguist.

Terminology: When did we start using haboob to describe dust storms in Arizona

What should I do in a dust storm if I am driving?

The Arizona Department of Transportation has helpful tips for drivers who may get stuck in a dust storm while driving. The "Pull Aside, Stay Alive" campaign aims to save drivers from dangerous situations by providing tips to survive a blowing dust event.

• If you encounter a dust storm, immediately check traffic around your vehicle (front, back and to the side) and begin slowing down.
• Do not wait until poor visibility makes it difficult to safely pull off the roadway ― do it as soon as possible. Completely exit the highway if you can.
• Do not stop in a travel lane or in the emergency lane. Look for a safe place to pull completely off the paved portion of the roadway.
• Turn off all vehicle lights. You do not want other vehicles, approaching from behind, to use your lights as a guide and possibly crash into your parked vehicle.
• Set your emergency brake and take your foot off the brake. Stay in the vehicle with your seat belt buckled and wait for the storm to pass.
• Drivers of high-profile vehicles should be especially aware of changing weather conditions and travel at reduced speeds.

More information on dust storm safety can be found at PullAsideStayAlive.org and safety tips for driving in rainstorms can be found at azdot.gov/monsoon .

(This story has been updated to add new information.)

Parts of this article were generated by The Arizona Republic and USA TODAY Network using data released by the National Weather Service. They were edited by a staff member. The Republic's Corina Vanek also contributed to this article.

Corina Vanek covers development for The Arizona Republic. Reach her at cvanek@The News Pulse . Follow her on X @CorinaVanek .

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Flights halted at Phoenix Sky Harbor due to high winds