Stunning Dust Devil Captured on Film in the Valley

PHOENIX — A San Tan Valley resident captured an impressive dust devil on Saturday, which some described as tornado-like. The sighting was reported to 12News by Weather Watcher Mrz Bleezy.

“That’s one of the largest dust devils I’ve ever seen!” remarked 12News Meteorologist Chris Dunn. Dust devils are small, rapidly rotating columns of air that form on clear, warm days, collecting dust and debris along their path.

The swirling phenomenon crossed Ironwood Road, drawing attention from onlookers. Such occurrences are not uncommon in Arizona, particularly during the monsoon season.

The Phoenix Metropolitan Area, locally referred to as “The Valley,” is the largest in the Southwest. It comprises several major cities beyond Phoenix, including Mesa, Chandler, Scottsdale, Tempe, and Glendale, among others.

According to the 2020 United States Census, the Valley has a combined population of approximately 4.8 million residents, ranking it as the 11th largest metropolitan area in the nation, just behind Boston and Atlanta.