Gilbert scene/Matt Hamada, cbs5az.com
From viewer Terry Ann/South Mill Ave. near U.S. 60
Gilbert scene/Matt Hamada, cbs5az.com
Mesa scene/From viewer Brian S.
From viewer David PadillaPHOENIX (CBS5) -
The Arizona monsoon sprang to life late Saturday afternoon, blanketing the Valley with dust, followed by downpours in some sections.
Dust and thunderstorm warnings were posted from the east Valley to southwestern Maricopa County.
Three miles east of Anthem, a weather spotter measured .35 of an inch of rain in 20 minutes. Winds were estimated at 50 mph.
One mile south/southeast of Gilbert, another weather observer logged .40 of an inch of rain in 20 minutes.
Elsewhere, National Weather Service meteorologists detected severe thunderstorms capable of producing damaging winds in excess of 60 mph.
Dust and poor visibility quickly spread west into the Greater Phoenix area and then on to the western suburbs.
Winds reached 30 mph, gusting to 45 mph.
Widespread visibility were down to 1/4 mile in blowing dust and down to zero visibility in some spots.
A moist easterly to southeasterly flow aloft over the region is expected to allow scattered to numerous thunderstorms to develop over south-central and southwest Arizona, forecasters said.
The thunderstorms will then expand into southeast California by Sunday. A number of hard to time weak atmospheric disturbances embedded in this flow will lead to differences in thunderstorm intensity and overall coverage each day, meteorologists said.
Stronger storms this weekend will be capable of producing strong winds, frequent lightning, heavy rain and possible flooding.
The monsoonal atmosphere will stick around at least until Monday, forecasters said.
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