DUST STORM WARNING

Dust Storm Warning: Pinal, Arizona

Dust Storm Warning issued October 16 at 8:40AM MST until October 16 at 10:45AM MST by NWS Phoenix AZ · EXPIRED

The National Weather Service office in Phoenix, Arizona issued a Dust Storm Warning for Pinal, Arizona on Friday, October 16, 2026. It has expired.

WarningDust Storm Warning

StatusExpired

Issued byNWS Phoenix, Arizona

Area1 area(s)

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What the Weather Service said

The National Weather Service in Phoenix has issued a * Dust Storm Warning for... Pinal County in southeastern Arizona... * Until 1045 AM MST. * At 840 AM MST, a plume of dust was located 9 miles north of Maricopa, or 8 miles west of Sun Lakes, and was stationary along Highway 347. HAZARD...Less than a quarter mile visibility with strong wind gusts in excess of 40 mph. SOURCE...Satellite and highway camera observations. IMPACT...Dangerous life-threatening travel. * Locations impacted include... Mainly rural areas of Pinal County. This includes AZ Route 347 between mile markers 180 and 184.

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?

Watch vs. warning. A watch means conditions are favorable. A warning means it's happening or about to. Warnings are when you act.

Official, current information: weather.gov forecast for this area. See every U.S. warning that day.

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