Arizona Watcher
Central Arizona remains under a High Pollution Advisory after a second consecutive Category 5 dust storm, leaving much of the Valley hazy with poor air quality.
A late‑night wind event produced widespread visibility reductions and a spike in airborne particulates; officials urged consolidating travel, stabilizing loose soils and avoiding dirt‑road travel or leaf blowing.
Extreme heat remains the dominant story with First Alert Heat Days through Sunday and daytime highs forecast in the 109–112°F range as a persistent high‑pressure ridge limits moisture.
A robust ridge is capping the atmosphere and suppressing broader monsoon activity; models show only isolated evening storm chances for Phoenix — about 20% Sunday night and 30% Monday night.
Southeast Arizona currently carries the highest convective probabilities; storms over higher terrain can produce strong outflow winds that kick up dust and send downstream dust into the Valley.
Forecasters project a cooler pattern next week with several days below seasonal averages that should ease extreme heat, though air‑quality concerns and localized storm uncertainty will persist.
Central Arizona remains under a High Pollution Advisory after a second consecutive Category 5 dust storm, with hazy skies and poor air quality across the Valley. Meteorologists say widespread monsoon relief is not imminent; only isolated evening storm chances — about 20% Sunday…