Blowing Dust Advisories are in effect across southeast Arizona and southwest New Mexico this afternoon and evening, as thunderstorm outflows generate sudden bursts of wind-driven dust capable of dropping highway visibility to near zero across the Chiricahua Mountains, the Bootheel region and the San Pedro River Valley.
Southwest New Mexico: Zero Visibility Possible, Dust Storm Warnings on Standby
The NWS El Paso/Santa Teresa office issued a Blowing Dust Advisory from 3 PM to 8 PM MDT today for the Southwest Desert/Lower Gila River Valley, the Lowlands of the Bootheel, and the Southwest Desert/Mimbres Basin. Visibility is expected to drop to between one-quarter and one mile, with wind gusts over 50 mph possible from thunderstorm outflows.
The bulletin contains an explicit escalation warning: “Dust Storm Warnings will be issued as needed as localized areas may drop to as low as zero visibility.” The Bootheel region is classic haboob country, where convective outflows can generate walls of dust moving at 50 to 60 mph.
Southeast Arizona: Chiricahua National Monument and Sierra Vista
The NWS Tucson office issued a Blowing Dust Advisory from 4 PM to 8 PM MST today for the Upper San Pedro River Valley (Sierra Vista, Benson), Eastern Cochise County (Douglas, Willcox), the Upper Gila River Valley (Clifton, Safford), the Chiricahua Mountains including Chiricahua National Monument, and the Dragoon, Mule, Huachuca and Santa Rita Mountains including Bisbee and Madera Canyon. Wind gusts exceeding 50 mph possible, with visibility dropping below one quarter of a mile in the worst areas.
The “Pull Aside, Stay Alive” Protocol
Both advisories carry the same critical driving instruction: if you encounter blowing dust on the roadway, pull off the road as far as possible and put your vehicle in park. Turn the lights all the way off and keep your foot off the brake pedal. The reason to turn lights completely off is counterintuitive but critical: vehicles approaching from behind may follow your lights directly into you. Arizona law enforcement has documented multiple fatalities from this scenario during haboob events on Interstate 10 and Route 80.
Travelers driving through southeastern Arizona or southwestern New Mexico this afternoon should check road conditions at 511.az.gov and nmroads.com, and be prepared to pull over with no warning.
