Haboobs & Monsoons & Heat, Oh My!!!

[Retro Red]

Talk about yer kilt-lifters!

The Phoenix area had its first big haboob & monsoon storm last night.

After a sweltering day with a high temp of 114°F (45.6°C), about 1900 MST the haboob started approaching the Valley from the south - a thick, choking wall of dust about 4,000 feet (1,220 meters) high & approximately 50 miles (80.5 Km) wide, moving at about 40 MPH (64.4 KmPH). Visibility dropped to about 50 feet (15.2 meters) in some locations & take-offs & landings at the airport were halted during the worst of the storm. The dust was soon followed by a welcome thunderstorm that dropped some much needed rain on this drought-stricken city (we've had less than 2 inches/5 cm of rain so far this year).

Here's some photos...

Here it comes...


devouring all within its path...


enter sandman...

[demobud]

MAn I saw that on the news, that looked rough!

[macwilkin]

Boy, do those photos bring back memories...I remember standing on the back deck of my grandparents' apartment and watching Metrocenter being "devoured" by a giant wall of dust.

Regards,

Todd

[mudd]

Ah yes, that does bring back memories. Retro Red, you have a habit of doing that with you photos.

And, cajunscot, if you know metrocenter, then you probably know the location of one of my alma maters just down the road; DeVry Tech.

[macwilkin]

Ah yes, that does bring back memories. Retro Red, you have a habit of doing that with you photos.

And, cajunscot, if you know metrocenter, then you probably know the location of one of my alma maters just down the road; DeVry Tech.

Yep, I remember DeVry -- I also remember all of the commericals for DeVry on KPHO. My grandparents lived on 31st just accross from MC in some apartments -- Sierra Pines, if I remember correctly.

Do you remember Pancho's Mexican Buffet in north end of the Metrocenter loop? Or the Smittys on 35th & Peoria? Garcias?

Memories...

T.

[Ayin McFye]

Yep, I remember DeVry -- I also remember all of the commericals for DeVry on KPHO. My grandparents lived on 31st just accross from MC in some apartments -- Sierra Pines, if I remember correctly.

Do you remember Pancho's Mexican Buffet in north end of the Metrocenter loop? Or the Smittys on 35th & Peoria? Garcias?

Memories...

T.

I never went to the Pancho's buffet in Phoenix, but we used to have one out in Mesa on Country Club and Southern. My mom used to steal their sofapia's by putting them in her purse. As a kid i used to love raise the little flag to get them to come over for stuff. I used to drink my water super fast just so i could raise the flag to get them to come back and fill it up.

Anyways the storm was awesome. I was out playing poker when the storm hit, and I had to excuse myself from the game to go outside and enjoy it. I probably lost a bit of money while i was outside, and the game kept going, but i didn't care. Rain and storms happen so rare here, that you've got to enjoy them while they last.

[mudd]

Do you remember Pancho's Mexican Buffet in north end of the Metrocenter loop? Or the Smittys on 35th & Peoria? Garcias?

I didn't know much about the area. I lived in East Mesa and had a 37 mile drive to get there.

I do, however, remember studying next to the ice rink at Metrocenter.

[Archangel]

One of my co-workers just about chewed his leg off to give up everything here and move there. Why?

[macwilkin]

One of my co-workers just about chewed his leg off to give up everything here and move there. Why?

If you have to ask, I can't explain it to you. Arizona just gets in your blood. I fell in love with it the first time I visited.



Todd

[Mr. MacDougall]

My first paying job was taking public opinon polls in MetroCenter. In those days, there were three fountains, and about once each month, someone would dump bubblebath in one of the fountains.

Sometimes someone was even me.