50-mile wide, mile-high dust storm (called a haboob) engulfs Phoenix

The air around the Phoenix area was a hazy shade of brown and a layer of dirt coated cars and buildings Wednesday following a massive dust storm overnight that was up to 50 miles wide. - msnbc.com

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Heat Grips Much of US; Get Used to It

The mercury climbed into the 90s across half the country in a record-breaking blast of heat, forcing schools with no air conditioning to let kids go home early and cities to open cooling centers. And scientists say we had better get used to it.