Highlights
- NWS Phoenix issued a Dust Storm Warning for Maricopa County effective 10:59 p.m. MST August 19 through midnight.
- A dust channel near Buckeye is moving west at 30 mph with winds exceeding 50 mph and visibility under a quarter mile.
- Affected highways include I-10 between mile markers 81 and 126, Route 85 between 138 and 154, and Route 303 between 105 and 111.
- NWS advises motorists caught in the storm to pull off the road, turn off lights, and keep their foot off the brake.
DUST STORM WARNING: The National Weather Service in Phoenix issued a Dust Storm Warning for Maricopa County at 10:59 p.m. MST Tuesday, August 19, valid through midnight. Severity is rated severe.
At 10:59 p.m., a dust channel was near Buckeye, moving west at 30 mph. The NWS, citing Doppler radar, warns of less than a quarter mile visibility with winds in excess of 50 mph, conditions it describes as posing dangerous, life-threatening travel.
The warning covers the following highways: AZ Interstate 10 between mile markers 81 and 126; AZ Route 85 between mile markers 138 and 154; and AZ Route 303 between mile markers 105 and 111. Locations in the affected zone include Goodyear, Buckeye, Tonopah, Palo Verde, Perryville, White Tank Mountain Park, Liberty, Painted Rock Dam, Palo Verde Nuclear Generation Station, Wintersburg, Estrella Mountain Ranch, Hassayampa, and Arlington.
The NWS advises avoiding outdoor exposure, noting dust storms can lead to Valley Fever. Motorists caught in the storm should pull off the road, turn off their lights, and keep their foot off the brake. The agency's guidance: "PULL ASIDE STAY ALIVE."
The warning expires at midnight MST August 20.
Sources
Every factual claim in this article traces to one of the sources below. See how we work for the editorial process.
- api.weather.gov retrieved 20/08/2026 06:00
Authored by The Scottsdale Signal. Drafted by AI from primary-source material under our beat-specific editorial guides; reviewed by humans before publish under our five-gate process. Sources retrieved at 20/08/2026 06:00. Every claim traces to a source.
