America 
 
 Video: Haboob, A Huge Dust Storm, Hits Phoenix Area 
 
 A dust storm reported to be more than 3,000 feet high hit Phoenix Friday, limiting visibility and threatening to reshape landscapes and leave a coating of grit in its wake. Striking photos show a wall of dust pushing its way across neighborhoods and streets in the Phoenix metro region in the Valley. 
 
 The storm is commonly referred to as a haboob, from the Arabic word for an intense summer dust storm. Today's storm hit in time to complicate the Friday afternoon commute. 
 
 Over 2,000 feet high and 1/4 mile or less visibility. We've got ourselves a big #Haboob. #abc15wx pic.twitter.com/EPN0w2Zcnt — Amber Sullins (@AmberSullins) July 26, 2014 
 
 The National Weather Service in Phoenix says the storm could last until 7 p.m. local time in Maricopa and Pinal counties. The agency is urging drivers to pull off the road for safety's sake. 
 
 Dust storm and rush home traffic not a good combination #haboob pic.twitter.com/dQTdi1HfNb — Tony Squieri (@tsquieri) July 26, 2014 
 
 We'll update this post if the storm causes serious problems; in the meantime, the photos caught our eye as they circulated on Twitter and elsewhere. ||||| Play Facebook 
 
 Twitter 
 
 Embed Towering Dust Storm Forms Over Phoenix 2:23 autoplay autoplay Copy this code to your website or blog 
 
 A massive dust storm moved through the Phoenix area Friday evening, knocking out power to more than 10,000 Salt River Power electricity customers and diverting at least one flight bound for Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. 
 
 The National Weather Service issued a blowing dust advisory until 9 p.m. local time and warned of thunderstorm conditions with "large areas of dense blowing dust." Visibility could be reduced to less than a quarter of a mile in some areas. The NWS encouraged drivers who encounter severely reduced visibility to pull off the road as far as possible and park with vehicle lights off while keeping feet off the brake pedal. 
 
 IN-DEPTH 
 
 SOCIAL 
 
 ---Richie Duchon
– Thousands of Phoenix residents lost power when a huge dust storm rolled in yesterday evening, reports NBC News. The storm arrived in time to mess up the rush-hour commute and also temporarily forced a halt to incoming flights at the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, reports the Arizona Republic. A storm like this is called a haboob, which NPR explains is from the Arabic word for a summer dust storm. See ABC15 for a collection of photos.