It's been a hazy day in most of metro Phoenix as a blanket of dust has settled over the Valley.
Early Tuesday morning, thunderstorm winds blowing from the east and southeast caused the dust, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality said. Elevated levels are also likely Wednesday when "thunderstorms from the Rim and White Mountains are expected to send winds in Phoenix's direction."
ADEQ issued a high pollution advisory due to the windblown dust and smoke for both Tuesday and Wednesday.
As the sun is coming up, hazy skies remain across the Phoenix metro. At this time of day, and with diminishing winds, there aren't many ways to get this lingering dust out of here, so it will likely be sticking around through much of the morning. #azwx pic.twitter.com/WisEMTYdvd
— NWS Phoenix (@NWSPhoenix) July 1, 2025
Residents are urged to limit time outside, drive less and eliminate the use of wood-burning stoves and fireplaces, among other recommendations.
Metro Phoenix is also under an extreme heat warning Tuesday with a forecasted high of 113 degrees. Temperatures are expected to drop several degrees from Wednesday through Saturday.
Very hot temperatures will persist through Tuesday with highs today topping 115°F in some areas. Phoenix may set a daily record high today with a forecast high of 116°. Fortunately, cooler weather is expected by mid-week as thunderstorm activity moves into the region. #azwx #cawx pic.twitter.com/TVpucUPDba
— NWS Phoenix (@NWSPhoenix) June 30, 2025
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Meteorologist say this is a seasonal weather pattern and isn’t predicted to break any high-temperature records. -
From Flagstaff, Darren McCollum with the National Weather Service said the start of meteorological winter comes with a short term period of dry and cooler weather. -
A team of researchers has been studying meteorological and air quality data collected during the 189 dust storms we’ve experienced in Phoenix since 2010. Based on that analysis, they recently unveiled the "Phoenix Dust Scale," a ranking system to assess the severity of dust storms. -
A team of 22 meteorologists and weather experts spent years developing the first standardized dust storm scale. It's designed to classify severity, like the Enhanced Fujita scale that's used for categorizing tornadoes. -
The city of Flagstaff is having one of the wettest starts to the water year on record, according to the National Weather service. A water year is a yearlong measurement of surface-water supply.
