Haboob!! Need I say more?

One of the joys of living in the desert Southwest is the occasional summer sandstorm, lovingly referred to as a "Haboob", which sounds like something you would hear in the middle East, not Arizona. Our Monsoon season is gearing up and we had a Haboob on July 5 (see the photo below) that was the biggest seen in the last 40 years! This monstrosity was 2 miles high and over 50 miles wide and was moving fast.

(The Haboob just as it is reaching downtown Phoenix)

Check out this awesome time lapse video. The interaction between the Haboob and the clouds above remind me of a breaking ocean wave -- simply incredible to witness.

The Phoenix Haboob of July 5th, 2011 from Mike Olbinski on Vimeo.

(A Haboob "dust angel" at the bottom of the Mona Plummer pool at ASU -- compliments of Joel)

After work yesterday, I stepped outside and was confronted with another Haboob that was looming down upon me from the South. Thankfully this one was not anywhere near the size of the previous one, but nonetheless, it was an impressive sight to behold.

Looking South from behind building C4 (near Chandler Boulevard and the 101).