Dust Storm Hits Valley as Sky Harbor Lifts Ground Stop

A dust storm and thunderstorms affected Arizona’s Valley on Oct. 10, 2026, as a National Weather Service warning covered parts of Maricopa and Pinal counties, while Phoenix Sky Harbor temporarily stopped ground operations because of storms, creating dangerous travel conditions for drivers.

According to the National Weather Service in Phoenix, a wall of dust was located along a line from near Luke Air Force Base to 14 miles south of Maricopa and moved northeast at 30 mph.

The warning issued by the National Weather Service covered Maricopa County in south central Arizona and Pinal County in southeastern Arizona until 1:45 p.m. The agency reported visibility below one quarter mile and winds above 40 mph.

The National Weather Service said the dust storm affected areas including Phoenix, Mesa, Chandler, Glendale, Tempe, Peoria, Surprise, Avondale, Goodyear, Casa Grande, and other Valley communities.

Phoenix Sky Harbor issued a ground stop around 1 p.m. because of thunderstorms, according to the airport update cited by 12News. The ground stop was lifted at 2:12 p.m.

Emergency crews responded after lightning struck a palm tree near Gilbert and Baseline Roads, according to 12News. Firefighters arrived shortly afterward and extinguished the fire.

The weather warning also affected travel routes across the region, including portions of Interstate 10, Interstate 17, Interstate 8, US Highway 60, and several Arizona state routes, according to the National Weather Service.