A towering cloud of dust at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport on Aug. 25, 2025. City of Phoenix via AP
Massive walls of dust and debris called haboobs that roll through the U.S. Southwest can be awe-inspiring and terrifying, especially for motorists caught in their path.
Thunderstorms spawn the phenomenon and can create a wall of dust thousands of feet tall and several miles wide, reaching speeds of 60 mph or more.
