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Massive dust storm leaves thousands without power and blinds drivers in southwest US

A powerful dust storm, known as a haboob, has struck the southwestern state of Arizona, bringing dangerous driving conditions, knocking out power and closing airports.

The skies above Arizona's state capital, Phoenix, turned dark on Monday as the weather system rolled in.

More than 15,000 people lost power, most in Maricopa County, which includes Phoenix, according to the tracking website PowerOutage.us

Heavy rain and wind followed the haboob, delaying flights at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and damaging a terminal roof.

Arizona City, about 60 miles (95km) southeast of Phoenix also experienced the towering wall of dust.

Bernae Boykin Hitesman was driving her son and daughter, nine and 11, home from school when she was forced to quickly pull her car over as the storm engulfed her vehicle.

"I couldn't see my hand in front of my face if I put my hand outside," she said.

"My kids were really, really scared, so I was trying to be brave for them.

She added she could taste the dust and feel the strong wind rattling her car until it finally passed about 15 minutes later.

What is a haboob?

by Joanna Robinson, Sky News weather producer

A sandstorm or duststorm is often referred to as a haboob.

The name originates from northern Sudan and comes from the Arabic word 'habb', which means "to blow".

Now the term is used across the world to describe any wind-driven sandstorm or dust storm in arid or semi-arid regions, like Phoenix in the Sonoran Desert.

Haboobs often occur as a result of a microburst within a thunderstorm, when a strong downdraught of air hits the ground and spreads out in all directions.

In desert regions, the microburst outflow can carry sand and dust particles at great speeds, reaching heights of up to 5,000ft.

Richard Filley, a retired university professor who lives in the Phoenix suburb of Gilbert, said the dust storm caused the trees to sway and knocked bird feeders to the ground.

Fine dust found its way through "every little crack and space" into his house, he said.

"You look at the photos of haboobs and they are a spectacular natural phenomenon. They are kind of beautiful in their own way," he added.

On Saturday, in the neighbouring state of Nevada, strong dust storms and 50mph winds ripped through Black Rock City, a temporary city erected in the Black Rock Desert as part of the Burning Man festival.

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The storm wreaked havoc on campsites and caused major travel delays in the area, with festival organisers confirming there were four minor injuries, according to Sky's US partner, NBC News.

The National Weather Service had issued a dust storm advisory over the weekend, saying "a wall of blowing dust" was tracking northward.

An estimated 70,000 people are expected to travel to Black Rock City for the festival, which runs through 1 September.

Dust storms can prove extremely dangerous for motorists as they reduce visibility. At least eight people were killed in Kansas in March after a pile-up involving more than 70 vehicles caught in a dust storm.

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