Dust Storm Warning: Pinal, Arizona

The National Weather Service office in Phoenix, Arizona issued a Dust Storm Warning for Pinal, Arizona on Friday, October 16, 2026. It has expired.
What the Weather Service said
The National Weather Service in Phoenix has issued a * Dust Storm Warning for... Pinal County in southeastern Arizona... * Until 1130 AM MST. * At 925 AM MST, a plume of dust was located over Bapchule, or near Sun Lakes, and was stationary along Interstate 10. HAZARD...Less than a quarter mile visibility with strong winds in excess of 40 mph. SOURCE...Satellite observations and spotters. IMPACT...Dangerous life-threatening travel. * Locations impacted include... Bapchule, Santan and Sacaton. This includes AZ Interstate 10 between mile markers 170 and 176.
What to do
Motorists should not drive into a dust storm. PULL ASIDE STAY ALIVE! Dust storms lead to dangerous driving conditions with visibility reduced to near zero. If driving, avoid dust storms if possible. If caught in one, pull off the road, turn off your lights and keep your foot off the brake. There is no safe place on a highway when a dust storm hits. Visibility can be lost immediately, making it difficult or impossible to slow down and avoid stopped vehicles. Delay travel, or safely exit the highway before the dust storm arrives.
What a dust storm warning means
Blowing dust will cut visibility to a quarter mile (400 m) or less. If you are driving, pull off the road, turn off your lights and keep your foot off the brake.
Watch or warning?
A watch means conditions are right for a hazard to develop: be prepared. A warning means it is happening or about to happen: take action now. Advisories are for less serious hazards that still call for caution.
Did you know?
Tornado country. The United States averages about 1,200 tornadoes a year, more than any other country.
Official, current information: weather.gov forecast for this area. See every U.S. warning that day.
More: U.S. weather warnings · all events
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