Highlights
- The National Weather Service in Phoenix issued a Dust Advisory for Maricopa County effective until 10:15 p.m. MST on August 29.
- A dust wall was tracked at 9:28 p.m. moving north at 30 mph, reducing visibility to less than three miles with winds above 30 mph.
- Affected highways include I-10 between mile markers 140 and 143, I-17 between 201 and 221, and AZ-51 between mile markers 4 and 15.
- Motorists caught in blowing dust are advised to pull off the road, turn off lights, and keep their foot off the brake.
The National Weather Service in Phoenix issued a Dust Advisory for Maricopa County Friday evening, effective until 10:15 p.m. MST, warning of hazardous travel conditions across Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Phoenix, and surrounding communities.
At 9:28 p.m. MST, NWS Doppler radar tracked a wall of dust extending from the Arizona State Fairgrounds to Paradise Valley to near Scottsdale Airport to Goldfield Ranch to near Canyon Lake, moving north at 30 mph. Visibility dropped below three miles, with winds in excess of 30 mph.
The advisory covered the following highway segments: AZ Interstate 10 between mile markers 140 and 143, AZ Interstate 17 between mile markers 201 and 221, and AZ Route 51 between mile markers 4 and 15.
Other locations in the advisory footprint include Glendale, Peoria, Fountain Hills, Cave Creek, Carefree, New River, Sugarloaf Mountain, Ballantine Trailhead, Round Valley, Piestewa Peak Park, Deer Valley Airport, and North Mountain Park.
The NWS advised motorists to avoid blowing dust when possible. Drivers caught in dense blowing dust 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 advisory was set to expire at 10:15 p.m. MST August 29.
Sources
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- api.weather.gov retrieved 30/08/2026 04:31
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 30/08/2026 04:31. Every claim traces to a source.
