Haboobs & Monsoons & Heat, Oh My!!!

**Retro Red** · 17th July 07, 04:33 PM

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** · 17th July 07, 04:36 PM

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

**macwilkin** · 17th July 07, 04:41 PM

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** · 17th July 07, 05:51 PM

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** · 17th July 07, 05:59 PM

Originally Posted by 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.

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.

**Archangel** · 17th July 07, 07:22 PM

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

**macwilkin** · 17th July 07, 07:27 PM

Originally Posted by Archangel

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** · 17th July 07, 09:07 PM

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.

**cessna152towser** · 18th July 07, 03:28 AM

The Arizona dust storms made it onto our TV news here last night.
Maybe I should stop complaining about all the rain we have had here in Scotland in 2007.

**macwilkin** · 18th July 07, 03:32 AM

Originally Posted by 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.

I remember that happening from time to time. I also remember teenagers making out in the glass elevators.

But -- do you remember the lounge over the ice rink that was an old airplane?

T.