Mike Olbinski

Professional storm chaser, filmmaker and photographer. Emmy winner. Published author. Husband and father of three. Still builds Lego and loves Marvel.

[Mike Olbinski @MikeOlbinski]

Some Mount Ord magic last night. Got a nice sunset east, a new storm west and then a barrage to the south. More today! #azwx

[Dub Sonata @DubSonata]

Back of cam. Catalinas like 20 min ago. #azwx #stormhour

[Mark J. Rebilas @rebilasphoto]

Four favorites from a productive storm chase up the I-17 north of Cordes Junction, Arizona. Sat in same spot for 3 hours bagging lots of big bolts! Does anyone see a dinosaur in the first shot or am I high? 🦖 All images shot with Lightning trigger IV’s #azwx

📸 @rebilasphoto

[Mike Olbinski @MikeOlbinski]

@DubSonata SICK

[SGSUP at ASU @ASU_SGSUP]

Phoenix records the second Category 5 dust storm of the season in same week.

The Aug. 6, 2026 Category 5 dust storm has been classified as a widespread, long-duration and high-wind-gust event. Weakening thunderstorms near Tucson collapsed overnight, kicking up the outflow winds that drove the dust storm into Phoenix.

📍 West Chandler saw the highest dust concentrations, peaking at 5,841 µg/m³ after 1 a.m.
💨 Winds of at least 25 mph were recorded at multiple sites
📡 Dust was widespread, impacting 18 of 20 active stations
⏱️ Elevated dust concentrations lasted 3 hours, and dust lingered for a shorter amount of time than the Aug. 3-4, 2026 storm

📸 Footage by @JorgeTWeather and @ArizonaDOT

⚡ The Phoenix Dust Storm (PHX-DUST) Scale classifies dust storms after they occur, ranking them from Category 1 to Category 5 based on dust concentrations. Subcategories describe each storm's geographic extent, duration, and wind gusts.

⛈️ Explore the data and submit your monsoon footage at https://t.co/myroHrcwAT.

⚠️ Follow @NWSPhoenix for real-time weather alerts.

#PHXDust #AZWX #ASU #Monsoon2026 #Haboob #DustStorm @ASUTheCollege @ASUResearch @ASUNews @ArizonaDEQ @CityofPhoenixAZ @CUBoulder @MaricopaAir @MaricopaFlood @SRPconnect @NWSPhoenix @AZFamily @ABC15 @AmberSullins @MaricopaCounty @HeatReadyPHX @12News @FOX10Phoenix @SRPconnect @KittPeakNatObs

[Sean Voysey @seanvoysey]

This week I witnessed not one, but TWO Category 5 dust storms consume Phoenix. Given the dry conditions, more might be in the future. Monsoon 2026 is already blowing my mind.

Chasers: see a Haboob if you can! Tornadoes are amazing, the scale of one will stick with you!

#azwx

[Mike Olbinski @MikeOlbinski]

@DubSonata Nice man!!!!

[Mike Olbinski @MikeOlbinski]

@drhenz_wx 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[Mike Olbinski @MikeOlbinski]

Yesterday was just incredible. I’ve been asked a lot what I like to chase more…tornadoes or the monsoon. I never could decide but a few weeks ago it hit me. This is my home. There is nothing like the monsoon. #azwx

[Mike Olbinski @MikeOlbinski]

@DamasceneMoment I feel the same actually. Most of my best images over the years are from Arizona ❤️

[Mike Olbinski @MikeOlbinski]

@TheShipWatch_1 This was east of Douglas not Phoenix

[Mike Olbinski @MikeOlbinski]

This is a top five all time Arizona storm for me #azwx #douglas

[Mike Olbinski @MikeOlbinski]

@Tattoodaveaz Thank you Greg!

[Mike Olbinski @MikeOlbinski]

@christianfotoaz That’s just scud but cool!

[Mike Olbinski @MikeOlbinski]

Btw I could look back and see right where I pulled over cause the app tracks your chases!

[Mike Olbinski @MikeOlbinski]

Found a new spot last night and added it to my private shooting locations in Storm Chaser Atlas. So proud of this app!

[Roger Hill @rehill57]

Been a busy few days in southeast Arizona. Love lightning at and after sunset! Near Willcox. #azwx

[Mike Olbinski @MikeOlbinski]

Found a new spot last night and added it to my private shooting locations in Storm Chaser Atlas. So proud of this app!

[Mike Olbinski @MikeOlbinski]

@SimonStormRider Storm Chaser Atlas is calling your name 😆 but it’s not Twitter. Yet.

[Mike Olbinski @MikeOlbinski]

600 miles, Safford to Sunsites to Sells, to this random road, where I setup fast in the dark, then quickly stopped down my settings when bolts rained down over my head, and hid in the truck. This was at 10mm, landing a few hundred feet away. OMG. #azwx

[Mike Olbinski @MikeOlbinski]

@lorigracewx Still have scars 😆😆😆 luckily this time I was inside my truck lol

[Mike Olbinski @MikeOlbinski]

Somehow went from Willcox to out in front of the Sells storms just now almost to die #azwx

[Christian Garcia @christianfotoaz]

I don’t believe I’ve ever captured the color like this in a night storm. This storm was in Sonora Mexico seen from Hereford Az. #azwx