Highlights
- NWS Phoenix issued a Dust Advisory for Maricopa County effective 9:38 p.m. MST Sunday, expiring 10:45 p.m.
- Visibility dropped below one mile with winds exceeding 40 mph along I-8 between mile markers 104 and 130.
- AZ Routes 85 and 238 were also affected; Gila Bend and Bosque were among locations impacted.
- Motorists caught in blowing dust are advised to pull off the road, turn off lights, and keep foot off the brake.
DUST ADVISORY: The National Weather Service in Phoenix issued a Dust Advisory for Maricopa County Sunday night, effective 9:38 p.m. MST and running until 10:45 p.m. MST, citing less than one mile of visibility and wind in excess of 40 mph.
At 9:38 p.m., Doppler radar showed a wall of dust extending from 9 miles west of Kaka to 12 miles southwest of Big Horn to near Bosque to 6 miles northwest of Sonoran National Monument to near Estrella Mountain Ranch, moving west at 20 mph.
The advisory covered the following highways: AZ Interstate 8 between mile markers 104 and 130; AZ Route 238 between mile markers 1 and 8; and AZ Route 85 between mile markers 1 and 27, and between mile markers 119 and 124. Locations impacted included Gila Bend, Gila Bend Auxiliary Field, and Bosque.
NWS Phoenix characterized the primary impact as hazardous travel.
What should drivers do if caught in blowing dust?
NWS advises motorists to avoid blowing dust if possible. If caught in dense blowing dust, pull off the road, turn off your lights, and keep your foot off the brake. Do not drive into an area of blowing dust.
The advisory expired at 10:45 p.m. MST Sunday; motorists on affected routes should monitor NWS Phoenix for any follow-on alerts.
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 24/08/2026 04:39
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 24/08/2026 04:39. Every claim traces to a source.
