Spectacular dust storm feared by locals

Incredible time-lapse video has been sped up to show how a rolling wall of dust engulfs the US city of Phoenix like the shockwave from a bomb blast.

Videos captured by Arizona locals on Saturday night show the formation of the dust cloud as an eerie red glow descends on the town.

But only minutes after choking on the dust passes, locals prepare for the forthcoming deluge as the storms typically herald the onset of flooding rains in the desert state.

A flood warning was issued an hour later.

Still suffering through one of Arizona's largest droughts on record, Phoenix residents should be joyful at any sign of rain but Saturday's wall of dust was a sign of a downpour.

Some houses that were trashed from flood water in the Phoenix Valley a few weeks earlier are still being cleaned up. A local, Jenny Nuñez, knows that even if it rains a little, her home will flood.

"We like it here. We've been here a long time," Nuñez said. "It's just too much."

Every time it starts to rain, she fears the flood.

"[The water comes in] I'd say in the matter of four to five minutes," she said.

Time-lapse video that captured the formation of the dust cloud looks like the aftermath from a large bomb blast blowing over the city.

Phoenix's mayor has responded to frustrated residents.

"I don't want to over-promise and say if the heavy rains come back that the engineering issues are going to be fixed in the next few weeks," said Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton.

Source: AZNCentral, KPHO