Surprise storm leaves damage, sparks fires

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. The storms prompted a slew of weather warnings for south central and central Arizona. They marched through the area towing rain, hail and damaging winds with them. Some warnings were posted for blowing dust while others targeted the potential for severe thunderstorms. The storms stretched from Tucson to Phoenix. Meteorologists said 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.