PHOENIX – A dust storm and thunderstorm hit the Phoenix metropolitan area with lighting strikes being blamed for starting two house fires and a blaze at a cardboard recycling company.
There were no immediate reports of any injuries.
The National Weather Service says the dust storm late Wednesday afternoon was caused by a combination of wind in the south heading north and wind in the east heading northeast.
They say the thunderstorm hit north-central Pinal County and central Maricopa County with winds of up to 60 mph and nickel-sized hail.
The home fires were in northeast Phoenix with the blaze at the cardboard recycling company reported west of the downtown area.