Windy, dusty conditions blew across much of the Phoenix area on Saturday, accompanied by warnings that conditions were ripe for wildfires across much of the state.

The National Weather Service has issued dust storm warnings for Maricopa, Pima and Pinal counties through 6 p.m. Saturday.

The weather service said to expect dusty conditions to continue through much of the afternoon, flagging conditions along Interstate 10 near Casa Grande and Eloy and on State Route 347 southwest of Chandler.

A red flag warning was also issued until 6 p.m. for a wide swath of the state, including Maricopa, Pima, Pinal, Graham, Greenlee, Santa Cruz and Cochise counties.

The National Weather Service of Phoenix said in a forecast discussion on Saturday afternoon that gusty winds would continue to be prevalent across lower desert communities, with a possibility of "elevated fire weather concerns."

Winds were expected to last through the late evening, easing to around 10 mph overnight.

Sunday and Monday were forecast to see similar conditions as Saturday, with breezes between 5 to 10 mph through the day and reaching gusts of up to 20 mph, according to the weather service.

For the latest watches and warnings, see our weather alert page .

What is a 'haboob'?

A "haboob" typically occurs in Arizona during monsoon. From June to September, large dust storms can occur across the state as high winds pick up loose dust.

"Haboob" is an Arabic word that translates to "big, blasting winds," explained Andrew Deemer, a meteorologist from the National Weather Service in Phoenix and former linguist.

Terminology: When did we start using haboob to describe dust storms in Arizona?

What should I do in a dust storm if I am driving?

The Arizona Department of Transportation has helpful tips for drivers who may get stuck in a dust storm while driving. The "Pull Aside, Stay Alive" campaign aims to save drivers from dangerous situations by providing tips to survive a blowing dust event.

More information on dust storm safety can be found at PullAsideStayAlive.org and safety tips for driving in rainstorms can be found at azdot.gov/monsoon .

This article was generated by The Arizona Republic and USA TODAY Network using data released by the National Weather Service. It was edited by a staff member.

(This story was updated to add new information.)