There are two things I have not witnessed since moving to Arizona, that everyone claims exists... but I never seem to see.

1. Scorpions. I have yet to see a single live (or dead for that matter) since moving to AZ 6 years ago.

2. Haboobs/Sandstorms that are so bad, that you really *DO* need to pull over for because of lost visibility. I've driven in rain storms that compromised my visibility *MUCH* worse than *ANY* haboob I've seen so far. Those aforementioned rainstorms *NEVER* have "Pull aside, stay alive" notifications or advice,... inspite the fact that water both more severely impacts visibility, but also increases stopping distance and increases the chances of accidents due to slippery surfaces. I've never witnessed a haboob where visibility was drastically reduced to less than recommended following distance.... they've never come close as far as I can remember.

I almost feel like the state takes these damn haboobs more seriously than they ought. I feel like haboobs are the most over-exaggerated weather phenomena we have in the state. I think you're way more likely to crash in the rain than in a typical dust storm. If I ever find myself in a dust storm that severely reduces my ability to see a beyond the 5 second rule... I will pull my own ass over.

Maybe I've just been lucky to either be at home whenever these storms happened, and never looked outside to see how bad it is. Maybe I'm just lucky that in my 6 years here in AZ, I've managed to avoid the 3S things Arizona has to offer (Scorpions, Snakes, and Severe Sandstorms).

Next time one hits, take a drive down I 10 by Casa Grande, that'll change your mind real quick.

Virtual Brown out.

Yep. That's a very dangerous corridor.
As for snakes, very easy to find if you know where/when to look.

This was in Florence, the ones on I10 are even worse!...

LOL. I've driven in rain storms that had *WAY* worse visibility than that.

Sure, I *WOULD* slow my ass down. But I don't think I'd just pull over when I can still see a football field away.
But I'll give you that, maybe it affects the highways worse or something.

Ok, YOU might be the competent driver.

But the seven people who follow you into your garage might not be quite so competent.

Just a thought.

Stop by my house after dark tonight and i can show you a dozen or more live scorpions. They are on my backyard wall in Gilbert.

I've seen 1 scorpion at my home in Mesa and it came out of a case of water from Wal-Mart.

I see rattlers all the time hiking in the Superstitions, but never anywhere else.

I've never had to pull over for a storm but I am also lucky I do not have to travel highways/freeways very often.

I was at the Toltec turn off when a Semi ran over 4+ cars killing many of the families in those cars.  The dirt was blowing so bad we had to wait at least a half hour before we could assist the DPS in getting to the cars.  One of the worst things was a young couple who were hugging each other, both had been decapitated.  Their kids in the back seat lived.  I puked all night.

This is the big thing, you may be a great driver in all conditions, but you share the road with the lowest possible common denominator.

16 year old texting, 20 year old high, 30 year old drunk, 85 year old snowbird.

Ive been in three storms that were messy.. two while driving.  
First one was south of chandler on gilbert rd where it hits the 87 on the res.  20-40ft viz due to dust.
Second is the dust storm below from like 2011.. that was the last massive one that made world news.
Third time was the one that messed up the valley a few years ago.. was driving in it in south chandler near the municipal airport.  My wife was FREAKING out.  A tree fell and hit us on cooper as we were driving north and we could not see jack.  60-80mph sideways wind and massive rain.  http://www.azfamily.com/story/29768179/storm-knocks-over-planes-at-chandler-airport

The thing about AZ storms is they are very localized.. so you might be high and dry and 3 miles away someone is having a biblical event.  You will eventually get the full monty.

It was actually darker than what you see.. this was at like 4-5pm.

That storm yesterday had some power too... but again.. there were heavy cells and it was easy to be missed by them.

From SRP:

Grab a black light and wander through the desert at night and you will find plenty of scorpions. Pay special attention to brush piles. Watch out for other unwelcoming critters.

[Don't do the same with the black light at your favorite no-tell motel.]

There's more vegetation as one gets further north in the Valley, as well as more topographical features to dissipate wind velocities somewhat. Therefore, the haboobs we experience up here are nothing like what one can find down south, as others have mentioned. I live just south of Anthem and we get dust storms that are far lighter than those down south simply because of the influence of the nearby New River and McDowell Mountains.

I was driving up 79 that day. One of the worst I've been in. 10 yard visibility.  And that was just being able to see taillights.  Not the whole car.

Monday night drive home visibility was down to 20 ft for a short section.  Riggs road just off I-10.

I've driven in worse fog.

Being anywhere near I10 between Phoenix and Casa Grande in a dust storm is no joke.  Its scary.

Get yourself a  cheap ultraviolet flashlight from Harbor Freight then go out at night and look at the ground around the trees and shrubs - you'll see lots of scorps.
Pic from a 2008 HTF shoot back in 2008.

I hate fekking scorps.  

When I first moved here three years ago my aunt told me about biblical rain and dust storms.

Then I saw the weatherman freaking out about massive rain coming.

Turned out to be a regular rain. Nothing special. I tuned in expecting him to say it missed us but he was jumping up and down like oceans were coming from the sky.

These people just don’t know what real weather is OP.  Heat....yes. Not much else. Want heavy rain?  Try Tampa. Turns streets into rivers. Literally.

Ohh how could I forget 2010!!

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_2010_Arizona_tornado_outbreak

You haven't been here long.

True. But I doubt this place can produce rain storms that FZl can. Especially when hurricanes stroll through.

I’m hoping though!  Fingers crossed. Seeing the sun every single day gets old lol.

The last three years have sucked for monsoon... Bigly

Fl can throw down for sure.

No shit?  

For those saying theyve seen rainstorm which were worse visibility than a dust storm, well get around I-10 and I-8 meet (Pinal county) Even Saudi and Iraq wasn't as bad.  It's the terrain down there.  Flat area with clay soil that when those micro blast hit its so bad in sections that you can't see the end of your hood.  They don't stay all day like that.  but can last off and on for an hour and you better pull over.  The rest of AZ not as bad.

One of my most surreal experience was that with lightening.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivjSZ81Rl9Y

I made it home in time to miss this.

It was looking a little hairy when I was leaving for work tonight around 630pm. Other than some dust and decent lightning, we just got sprinkled on in N Scottsdale. Hopefully my house in phx is still there in the morning

Terrible for your car to drive in the dust. Get home or sit it out if you can. Change your air filter after if you have to drive in it.

I don't get this reasoning. You've driven in worse conditions so people in general shouldn't exercise caution in dangerous conditions?

The back of my house overlooks 30+ square miles of desert and it takes minutes for a dust storm to cross the entire area. Knock yourself out driving around because "LOL ITS JUST DUST".