WOW!!! MAJOR HABOOB STRIKES CASA GRANDE!
The wind just seemed to come out of nowhere...which is very typical of dust storms in Arizona summers. I had just arrived home from work about 5:00 tonight when it hit. The big ominous orange dust cloud blew in with a fury blocking visibility to just a block or two from our house. It's always exciting even for those of us who have lived here several years. The neighbors all venture out to chide with each other and gather belongings that blow past from a neighbor's yard or patio.
While out on the patio enjoying the fury of the storm, Don and I heard a huge crash which was undoubtedly someone losing an awning. When the dirt had subsided a little, we hopped in our golf cart to check the houses we are watching. I don't know who lives at 1738, but they definitely lost their awning which faces the golf course. Several homes lost skirting but that's the only major damage we saw. We'll definitely be out in the morning after the wind and dirt dies down to check out the rest of the resort. Will report again tomorrow.
Now for the comedy........I know my camera can take short videos, but I've never really figured out how. I'm going to try posting some of my attempts for your amusement. Go ahead and laugh at me. It's okay. I found it quite amusing myself.I copied a news flash from the weather bureau for you. Oh....not a drop of rain. Just dirt.
STRONG GUSTY EAST TO SOUTHEAST WINDS...GENERATED BY DECAYINGTHUNDERSTORMS OVER PINAL AND SOUTHERN GILA COUNTY...WILL CONTINUEACROSS MUCH OF SOUTH CENTRAL ARIZONA INCLUDING THE GREATER PHOENIXMETROPOLITAN AREA...AS WELL AS NORTHWEST AND NORTH CENTRAL PINALCOUNTY...THROUGH AT LEAST 9 PM THIS EVENING. WINDS FROM 20 TO NEAR 50MPH WILL PERSIST...AND LEAD TO AREAS OF BLOWING DUST WITHVISIBILITIES LOCALLY DROPPING TO BELOW 2 MILES. ISOLATED LOCATIONSMAY SEE VISIBILITIES DOWN TO AROUND 1/2 MILE. AS THE EVENINGPROGRESSES...WINDS WILL GRADUALLY TAPER OFF AND VISIBILITY WILLSTEADILY IMPROVE.MOTORISTS ACROSS SOUTH-CENTRAL ARIZONA...INCLUDING THE GREATERPHOENIX AREA...AND OVER PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST AND NORTH CENTRAL PINALCOUNTY...SHOULD DRIVE WITH CAUTION THIS EVENING AND BE PREPARED FORSUDDEN SHIFTING CROSSWINDS AS WELL AS BRIEF SHARP REDUCTIONS INVISIBILITY DUE TO BLOWING DUST.STAY UP-TO-DATE ON THE LATEST FORECASTS BY LISTENING TO WEATHER RADIOON THE PUBLIC SERVICE BAND. MORE DETAILED INFORMATION IS AVAILABLEFROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PHOENIX ON THE INTERNET AT
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