The United States is getting its share of “natural” disasters this year, and the Southwest U.S. especially. Unprecedented drought, wildfires, and now dust storms. Just what the climate scientists have predicted and been warning us about for years. (Of course, expected to get much worse though if we don’t change course soon.)
Currently, the most prominent story out of the Southwest is a raging, historic dust storm that just swept through the state, passing over Pheonix.
Dust storm in Arizona July 6, 2011 (click to enlarge)
The dust storm has reportedly passed over, but caused plenty havoc beforehand.
“Phoenix brushed itself off and returned to normal on Wednesday after a ‘historic dust storm’ swept over the area, sending residents scrambling for cover, knocking out power and delaying flights,” Reuters reports.
The storm downed trees, tossed yard furniture, and snuffed out visibility across an area of some 50 miles at its peak on Tuesday evening, although there were no reports of any fatalities.
Around 100 electric customers remained without power as the sweep-up began on Wednesday morning, with crews expected to restore service to all residences by the end of the day, officials said.
Dust storm in Arizona on July 6, 2011 (click to enlarge)
Must have been pretty wild to experience.
As mentioned above, wild weather like extreme droughts, fires, and dust storms may be the norm soon. We have released countless tons of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and continue to do so. This has its effect on the climate and weather patterns we are used to. And, by and large, it is making more extreme weather that causes countless problems for humans.
In this case, the National Weather Service in Pheonix called the dust storm ”very large and historic” and an “impressive event.” Wonder how long it will be until the next such storm rolls around….
Of course, some say it’s best not to make any connections between all the crazy weather or global weirding and greenhouse gas emissions at all.
Related Stories:
- Insane Dust Storm/Sand Storm Videos (Holy Cow!)
- 2011 Tornadoes: Most Deadly U.S. Twisters Since 1950
- Are Tornadoes & Climate Change Linked?
- Mississippi River Floods, Texas Drought, and Global Weirding (& Food Prices/Crises)
Photos via jerryfergusonphotography; MrAnathema; MrAnathema
Zachary Shahan
If you couldn't guess, I spend most of my time on CleanTechnica and Planetsave. I'm the director/editor of both sites and am a little obsessed with them. I'm also Publishing Services Manager at Important Media, which means that I do everything I can to support other Important Media writers, editors, and directors (as well as the network as a whole) in the good work they are engaged in. You can also find my written work on Scientific American, Reuters, Change.org, and most of the sites in the Important Media network. For a full list of my author pages on sites around the internet, or to connect with me on common social networks, go to zacharyshahan.com
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Or, it could be because the earth is groaning as the last days approach, when birth pangs will get more intense and frequent. Man cannot do to the earth what God is about to do to the earth. All efforts to “save” the earth will be futile. God will judge the sins of man…not against the earth, but against His son, for rejecting His son.