Do You Know What to Do During a Dust Storm?

The North American Monsoon, known as "monsoon season" to Arizona residents, officially lasts 107 days annually, extending from June 15th to September 30th, often bringing life-threatening and damaging weather. 

This article will discuss the hazards of dust storms and what you need to know as a car owner if you get caught on the road in one and cover dust storm safety tips provided by the Arizona Department of Transportation.

What Causes Dust Storms?

Put simply, monsoons form when rain collides with intense summer heat, causing the humidity to rise, generating ideal circumstances for meteorological dangers such as torrential rain, strong winds, lightning, flash floods, and dust storms.

Dust storms are caused by extremely powerful winds, which are frequently generated by thunderstorms. Winds in arid areas can lift dust from the ground into the air, resulting in a dust storm. These two characteristics allow winds to gain velocity, becoming more potent and more dust blown into the atmosphere.

Massive dust storms, or haboobs, are common in Phoenix and Central Arizona during the summer monsoon and are caused by extremely powerful winds, frequently generated by thunderstorms. Winds lift dust from the ground into the air, resulting in a dust storm. These two characteristics allow winds to gain velocity, becoming stronger and more dust to be blown into the atmosphere. 

Dust storms pose an extreme hazard for motorists, as highway visibility can decrease to hundreds of feet to virtually zero in seconds.

Pull Aside, Stay Alive

If you find yourself on the road when a dust storm strikes, follow these tips provided by the Arizona Department of Transportation's "Pull Aside, Stay Alive" campaign.

What is the most important thing you can do to stay out of harm's way?

DO NOT DRIVE INTO A DUST STORM.

When a dust storm arrives, visibility rapidly decreases to zero and turns pitch black. If you are driving blind, then so is everyone else. Driving in these conditions can easily result in massive multiple vehicle collisions.

What should you do if a dust storm sweeps over the highway in front of you?

Keep these words in mind: "Pull Aside, Stay Alive."

• Avoid driving into or through a dust storm.
• If you encounter a dust storm, immediately check traffic around your vehicle (front, back, and to the side) and begin slowing down.
• Do not wait until poor visibility makes it difficult to safely pull off the roadway – do it as soon as possible. Completely exit the highway if you can.
• Do not stop in a travel lane or the emergency lane. Look for a safe place to pull completely off the paved portion of the roadway.
• Turn off all vehicle lights. You do not want other vehicles approaching from behind to use your lights as a guide and possibly crash into your parked vehicle.
• Set your emergency brake and take your foot off the brake.
• Stay in the vehicle with your seat belt buckled and wait for the storm to pass.
• Drivers of high-profile vehicles should be especially aware of changing weather conditions and travel at reduced speeds.

Stay Safe with Valley Chevy

Valley Chevy wishes to keep you and your family safe not only during monsoon season but throughout the year. 

By keeping your vehicle well-maintained and running its best, you can be sure that when you need to rely on your vehicle in an emergency on the road, it will perform predictably to deliver you and your family home safely. For all of your maintenance and repair needs, stop by Valley Chevy.

Image Source: Caleb Holder  / Shutterstock