In 2011, one storm slammed into Phoenix and left 40,000 tons of dust on every surface. If you've lived here even a short time, you know the drill: One moment, the sky is clear.

The next, visibility drops to zero as a massive dust storm engulfs the landscape. During the monsoon, a wall of dust can appear out of nowhere in the Arizona desert.

Twentynine Pines in the California desert, as well as Joshua Tree National Park, were placed under a warning for quarter-sized hail and 60 mph winds on Tuesday. So was Las Vegas.

Arizona's saguaro cactus has evolved to thrive in the extreme climate of the Sonoran Desert, but after decades of rising heat, even these towering icons are showing signs of stress.

A solar storm is forecast for Aug. 7 and 8, creating favorable conditions for the northern lights. Here's where the northern lights may be visible.