Phoenix has been cloaked in a film of haze, a visual testament to the atmospheric turmoil unfolding as dust settles over the Valley. Residents across the metro area have found themselves squinting through the murkiness, a direct result of thunderstorm winds that have persistently barraged the city from the east and southeast. According to KJZZ, these conditions on early Tuesday are likely to extend into Wednesday, exacerbated by additional thunderstorms projected to propel winds towards Phoenix from regions of the Rim and White Mountains. The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality has responded by issuing a high pollution advisory, urging residents to curb outdoor activities and reduce vehicular use amongst other recommendations.
The situation is further intensified by the soaring temperatures that have prompted an extreme heat warning, with Tuesday’s mercury expected to peak at an oppressive 113 degrees. While this is forecasted to decrease slightly from Wednesday through Saturday, the combination of dust and heat compounds the environmental stress, with residents advised to also limit the use of wood-burning stoves and fireplaces. Michael Graves, an ADEQ air quality meteorologist, acknowledged the thick, dusty conditions to FOX 10 Phoenix, explaining the role overnight thunderstorms play in periodically disturbing the air quality, sometimes to hazardous levels as indicated by the timelapse of the past 24 hours’ air quality data.
On the ground, the implications of the haze are tangible, with the murky air casting a gloomy cloak over the cityscape. The view from downtown Phoenix now includes a shaded South Mountain, hardly discernible through the dust and vehicular emissions accumulating overhead. Residents have expressed their dismay at the conditions, with statements captured by FOX 10 Phoenix—the reactions ranging from surprise to clear concern: “I woke up today, and it did look a little dusty … like a hazed tint,” one resident said. Another simply noted, “Now it is very hazy,” while another voiced, “To see it this morning, I was like, this is what bad visibility is.”…