Dust storm, monsoon slams Phoenix, Arizona causing damage

Julia Gomez, USA TODAY

Tue, August 26, 2025 at 11:57 AM UTC

2 min read

Thousands were left without power after a gigantic wall of dust and a monsoon slammed through Phoenix, causing damage and flight delays.

On Tuesday, Aug. 25, a haboob, a huge dust storm, barreled through Phoenix, the day after a different dust storm created a similar scene.

Photos and videos show a massive cloud of dust consuming homes as it engulfs Phoenix and the surrounding areas.

A monsoon storm followed the wall of dust and knocked the power out for thousands of people in Arizona, according to AZ Central, a part of the USA TODAY Network. Flights were also delayed, and the storm damaged Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

Here's what to know.

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Where did the storm come from?

A haboob comes into Chandler, Ariz. on August 25, 2025.

The monsoon hit San Tan Valley, Arizona, which is located around 47 miles southeast of Phoenix, at 5 p.m. local time, according to AZ Central. It reached downtown Phoenix within the hour.

Flood advisories and downed branches

Video shows street signs trembling from the wind, as it picked up debris and flung it around the street in Phoenix.

Downed branches also littered sidewalks as the storm made its way through the area.

A flood advisory was also issued, according to AZ Centrel.

Thousands without power

41,000 Salt River Project customers, an Arizona electric and water utility company, were left without power after the storm, and an additional 7,400 Arizona Public Service customers experienced an outage, reported AZ Central.

As of Tuesday morning, 7:30 a.m. ET, only 265 people in Maricopa County, where Phoenix is located, are without power, according to USA TODAY's data.

Storm disrupted travel at Phoenix airport

Operations were halted at Phoenix Sky Harbor, where 104 flights were delayed and three flights were cancelled, according to the airport's website.

The storm caused leaks and damage at the airport, where crews are assessing the damage.

Operations at the airport have since been resumed.

Contributing: Julie Mendes, Hayleigh Evans, Jose R. Gonzalez; Arizona Republic

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dust storm known as haboob barrels through Phoenix, Arizona

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