Arizona could face more severe storms after monsoon dust storms left thousands in the dark across Phoenix
Much of central and southern Arizona is under a Level 1 out of 5 risk of severe thunderstorms Thursday, according to NOAA's Storm Prediction Center (SPC). This includes the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas.
Arizona faces another monsoon thunderstorm, dust storm threat Thursday
Monsoon thunderstorms threaten to bubble up again Thursday afternoon across parts of Arizona, including Phoenix and Tucson. Dust storms and damaging wind gusts will be the biggest threat after monsoon storms knocked out power to tens of thousands of customers Wednesday.
PHOENIX — Monsoon thunderstorms threaten to bubble up again beginning Thursday afternoon across parts of Arizona, including Phoenix and Tucson. Dust storms and damaging wind gusts will be the biggest threat after monsoon storms knocked out power to over 32,000 customers Wednesday.
Watch: Monsoon thunderstorm blasts Apache Junction, Arizona
Monsoon thunderstorm blasts Apache Junction, Arizona on Thursday, August 20, 2026.
More than 15,000 customers were still without power early Thursday across Maricopa County, according to poweroutage.us. Many of those outages were restored by mid-morning.
The National Weather Service (NWS) recorded wind gusts up to 66 mph near Phoenix on Wednesday.
Reminder, Arizona storms can come quickly and without warning. Be cautious and aware of your surroundings while driving. Do NOT cross flooded areas and avoid roads during storms. pic.twitter.com/fKAox0Gqds
— Maricopa County Sheriff's Office (@MCSOAZ) August 20, 2026
The high winds also triggered Dust Storm Warnings across the region and visibility dropped to less than a quarter-mile in parts of northwestern Pima County. Air quality also reached hazardous levels during the worst of the storms, according to the EPA's Air Quality Index.
(FOX Weather)
Much of central and southern Arizona is under a Level 1 out of 5 risk of severe thunderstorms Thursday, according to NOAA's Storm Prediction Center (SPC). This includes the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas.
The Southwest monsoon season typically runs from mid-June to the end of September and produces the bulk of the yearly rainfall for parts of Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, and the southern parts of Utah and California.