Valley residents encouraged to stay inside due to poor air quality

PHOENIX — Passhon Kelson, with grocery bags in both hands, was in a hurry on Tuesday in downtown Phoenix.

“I’m definitely going inside today. I’m going to stay out of it,” she said just before noon. “You know, it seemed like a little drama out here with all the heat. They want to beat me up. I don’t want to fight.”

A day after Phoenix set a daily record high of 116 degrees, a thick layer of dust filled the Valley’s skies on Tuesday. 

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The nasty weather brought breathing problems to many people, and the City of Phoenix shut down some hiking trails because of the potential danger.

Michael Graves, air quality meteorologist for the state Department of Environmental Quality, said the dust storm was so severe it could be seen on satellite imagery to Mexico.

He also told 12News that the change in weather wasn’t a surprise with monsoon season on the way.

Kelson and others in downtown Phoenix said the weather was just miserable.

“A little bit of a tough day,” she said. “Just super stuffy.”

Andrii Zahorodnii, a tourist from Boston, said he was only spending one day in Phoenix and was frustrated he had to wear a mask after looking at the pollution levels on his phone.

“I was on ChatGPT about it. Whether it was okay. How much is okay?” he said. “At the end, I was able to argue my way into being outside for like 30 minutes.”

Wearing a mask — especially if a person has breathing problems — is a good idea, according to Jacqueline Cook, a nurse practitioner at Banner Health.

“Definitely stay inside. Close your windows,” she said. “Now is a good time to make sure your filters are switched out.”

Cook added that those who have chronic medical conditions like asthma COPD should make sure their refill medications are stocked.

Though it was a challenging day for some, Gary Thomas of Peoria said it wasn’t too bad for him.

“I’ve seen worse,” he quipped. “Los Angeles is bad.”