凤凰城市沙尘暴预警：FAA对天港机场发布地面停飞，78个航班延误
美国国家气象局10月10日下午1点过后不久对凤凰城大都会区大部分地区发布沙尘暴预警，警告强风携带的沙尘可能让主要高速公路的能见度在几秒钟内降至零。预警范围覆盖10号、17号州际公路和60号美国国道沿线，包括埃文代尔、固特异、凤凰城和梅萨等地，直至当天下午1点45分。
联邦航空管理局（FAA）随即对飞往凤凰城天港国际机场的航班发布地面停飞令，持续至下午2点30分，平均延误36分钟。截至当天下午1点40分，天港机场官网显示已有78个航班延误、2个航班备降。亚利桑那州交通厅在凤凰城以西10号公路佩里维尔路附近的交通摄像头拍到：中午12点52分，一堵棕色沙尘墙吞没了整条高速公路，远处的路牌和车辆几乎看不见。
气象部门称，当天中午12点45分观测到一股强流出边界，正携35至45英里/小时的阵风向东、东北移动。这场风暴与热带风暴雷切尔带来的水汽有关——雷切尔的残余水汽正进入美国西南部，给亚利桑那州部分地区带来阵雨、雷暴和大风。
气象预报显示，周六晚至周日上午将是降雨最强时段，雷切尔残余将于周日傍晚移出亚利桑那州。风暴过后，凤凰城将迎来明显降温：周二、周三最高气温可能只有70多华氏度，周三清晨低温或降至50多华氏度，之后气温回升至80多华氏度。气象部门提醒驾车者，遇到沙尘时应尽量驶离路面、挂驻车挡、关灯、脚离开刹车，避免追尾。
Dust Storm Warning Hits Metro Phoenix; FAA Ground Stop at Sky Harbor, 78 Flights Delayed
The National Weather Service issued a dust storm warning for much of the Phoenix metro area shortly after 1 p.m. on October 10, warning that blowing dust could drop visibility to near zero across major highways within seconds. The warning covered portions of Interstate 10, Interstate 17 and U.S. 60, including areas near Avondale, Goodyear, Phoenix and Mesa, until 1:45 p.m.
The Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground stop for flights bound for Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport until 2:30 p.m., with average delays of 36 minutes. As of 1:40 p.m., Sky Harbor's website reported 78 delayed flights and two diversions. An Arizona Department of Transportation traffic camera on I-10 near Perryville Road, west of Phoenix, showed a thick wall of brown dust engulfing the freeway at 12:52 p.m., with highway signs and distant vehicles barely visible.
The weather service said a strong outflow boundary was moving east and northeast at 12:45 p.m., with wind gusts of 35 to 45 mph. The storm developed as moisture associated with Tropical Storm Rachel moved into the Southwest, bringing showers, thunderstorms and gusty winds to parts of Arizona.
The greatest rainfall and impacts are expected Saturday night into Sunday morning as Rachel's remnants approach, passing through Arizona by Sunday evening. Much cooler temperatures will follow: highs on Tuesday and Wednesday may only reach the upper 70s, with Wednesday morning lows dipping into the 50s, before rebounding into the upper 80s later in the week. Motorists encountering blowing dust are urged to pull as far off the roadway as possible, put the vehicle in park, turn off the lights and keep feet off the brakes.
图片来源：Junebug172，公有领域（Wikimedia Commons）
