Phoenix hit by rare intense haboob dust storms twice in a week

Two unusually intense haboob dust storms struck the Phoenix area this week, with scientists calling them among the most severe in years. Both were Category 5 events, the highest on a new severity scale, with wind speeds around 50 mph and visibility reduced to half a mile. Occurring just days apart, they mark only the fifth and sixth such storms in 16 years. No significant impacts were reported, though experts link drier conditions and climate change to increased dust storm risk.