A haboob comes into Chandler, Arizona, on Aug. 25, 2025.
A haboob envelops Chandler, Arizona, on Aug, 25, 2025.

A giant cloud of dust known as a haboob swallowed up the Phoenix area and was quickly followed by a monsoon that left thousands without power and flights grounded the evening of Aug. 25.

Photos and videos of the haboob, a huge dust storm caused by strong winds from a thunderstorm, show the cloud consuming homes as it moved over Phoenix and surrounding areas. The dust darkened the sky in an almost apocalyptic scene.

A monsoon storm followed the wall of dust and knocked the power out for thousands of people in Arizona, according to the Arizona Republic, part of the USA TODAY Network. Flights were also delayed, and the storm caused damage to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

Here's what to know.

Where did the storm hit?

The monsoon hit San Tan Valley, Arizona, which is located about 47 miles southeast of Phoenix, at 5 p.m. local time. It reached downtown Phoenix within the hour.

Workers ending their days in downtown Phoenix shrieked in a mix of delight and fright as they ran for the cover of parking structures as winds whipped debris across wet streets, the Republic reported.

Flood advisories and downed branches

Video shows street signs trembling from the wind as the storm picked up debris and flung it around the streets in Phoenix.

Downed branches also littered sidewalks, and a flood advisory was issued.

Thousands knocked into darkness

About 41,000 customers of the Arizona utility company Salt River Project were left without power after the storm, and an additional 7,400 Arizona Public Service customers experienced an outage, the Republic reported.

The majority of people in Maricopa County, where Phoenix is located, had their power restored by the morning after the storm, according to USA TODAY power outage data.

Storm disrupted travel at Phoenix airport

Operations were halted at Phoenix Sky Harbor, where 104 flights were delayed and three flights were canceled, according to the airport's website.

The storm caused leaks and damage at the airport, and crews were assessing the damage.

Operations at the airport have since been resumed.

What is a haboob dust storm?

A haboob is an incredibly strong dust and sand storm that moves through hot and dry regions and is commonly found in the Sahara desert, the Arabian Peninsula, North Africa and the Gulf of Guinea, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The storms can also crop up in the Southwestern United States in states including Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. They form when a traveling thunderstorm cell causes air to be forced down and pushed forward, dragging with it dust and debris and creating a blowing wall as high as 10,000 feet.

Haboobs can arrive suddenly, reducing visibility to zero with the wall of dust that can be miles long. They can last a few minutes or up to a few hours.

"Blinding, choking dust can quickly reduce visibility, causing accidents that may involve chain collisions, creating massive pileups," the National Weather Service said.

Haboob is derived from the Arabic language, in which the word haab means wind or blow.

Contributing: Julie Mendes, Hayleigh Evans, Jose R. Gonzalez; Arizona Republic

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: A massive haboob hits Phoenix, leaving the city dusty and dark. Then came a monsoon.

Reporting by Julia Gomez and Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect