AZ dust

2gypsies wrote:
The corridor between north Tucson and Casa Grande is noted for dust storms. They happen every year and we have been in a couple. They are the scariest thing you can imagine. The times we were in one the dust came immediately without warning. There is no way you can just pull off the highway. You can't see one foot in front of you when it happens. You cannot see it coming. You just cross your fingers that the drivers behind you are stopping, also. The storms we were in happened in the fall, winter and spring. We're out of here in summer but they happen in summer, too. The area is flat and farming country.

These 'dust storms' are very different from the 'haboob' dust storms. With the 'haboob' you can actually see a tall wall of dust approaching from a distance and with those you do have a chance to get off the highway.

We winter in the Tucson area and our daughter lives in the Phoenix area so we drive the stretch often. Now if there's a slight breeze we take an alternate route which is longer but much safer. From Tucson we take 79 through Florence and into Apache Junction - east of Phoenix. It's a very scenic route with minimal traffic - and no dust.

Some folks recommend RV parks in Casa Grande but we would never stay there for exactly these reasons. Plus, it's very unhealthy to be in that dust.

We would advise everyone who drives this area to get a good weather report on wind speed just before your drive if you're approaching the area between north Tucson and Casa Grande along I-10. Be safe out there!

Thank you.......that route was on our plans for the near future.....we'll be sure to skirt around that area and watch weather reports closely :) This is why I love the internet and this forum in particular :) :)