From the Great Plains to the Southwest: Where Dust Storm Activity Is on the Rise

By Evan Comen • May 19, 2025

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By most measures, El Paso has experienced its worst dusty season this year since the Dust Bowl days of the 1930s. The border town has experienced nearly a full day of brownout conditions, with blowing dust posing significant threats to property, transportation, and public health.

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The recent El Paso storms are not happening in isolation. Across the country, dust storm activity is on the rise, growing in tandem with rising temperatures, prolonged drought, and increasing desertification. While the most destructive dust storms in U.S. history took place in the Great Plains states, today the greatest dust storm activity occurs in the Southwest. In some counties, the frequency of dust storms is rising by more than two storms per year. A closer look at the data reveals the counties where dust storms activity is on the rise.

To determine the counties where dust storm activity is on the rise, Climate Crisis 247 reviewed data on historical Dust Storm Warnings issued by the National Weather Service. Counties were ranked based on the average annual increase in dust storm warnings issued by the NWS from 2006 to 2024. Historical NWS dust storm warning polygons were pulled from the Iowa State University Iowa Environmental Mesonet program and were aggregated to the county level in QGIS. Population data is from the U.S. Census Bureau.

20. Nye County, NV

Photo by Michael "Tiny" Alcorn (tinyonstage) on Unsplash

Average annual increase in NWS dust storm warnings, 2006-2024: +0.9 per year
Worst year for dust storm warnings: 2022 (36 warnings)
Total population: 53,207
County seat: Tonopah

19. Lincoln County, NV

Photo by Artin Bakhan on Unsplash

Average annual increase in NWS dust storm warnings, 2006-2024: +0.9 per year
Worst year for dust storm warnings: 2022 (38 warnings)
Total population: 4,452
County seat: Pioche

18. Sierra County, NM

Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels

Average annual increase in NWS dust storm warnings, 2006-2024: +0.9 per year
Worst year for dust storm warnings: 2023 (25 warnings)
Total population: 11,511
County seat: Truth or Consequences

17. Inyo County, CA

Photo by Kadri Karmo on Unsplash

Average annual increase in NWS dust storm warnings, 2006-2024: +1.0 per year
Worst year for dust storm warnings: 2022 (34 warnings)
Total population: 18,803
County seat: Independence

16. Hidalgo County, NM

Photo by EveraldoBrito on Pixabay

Average annual increase in NWS dust storm warnings, 2006-2024: +1.0 per year
Worst year for dust storm warnings: 2024 (25 warnings)
Total population: 4,097
County seat: Lordsburg

15. Chaves County, NM

Photo by David Goldman on Unsplash

Average annual increase in NWS dust storm warnings, 2006-2024: +1.1 per year
Worst year for dust storm warnings: 2024 (42 warnings)
Total population: 64,446
County seat: Roswell

14. Otero County, NM

Photo by Mick Kirchman on Unsplash

Average annual increase in NWS dust storm warnings, 2006-2024: +1.1 per year
Worst year for dust storm warnings: 2024 (38 warnings)
Total population: 68,235
County seat: Alamogordo

13. Riverside County, CA

Photo by Nitish Kadam on Unsplash

Average annual increase in NWS dust storm warnings, 2006-2024: +1.3 per year
Worst year for dust storm warnings: 2022 (75 warnings)
Total population: 2,449,909
County seat: Riverside

12. Clark County, NV

Photo by Ryan Hafey on Unsplash

Average annual increase in NWS dust storm warnings, 2006-2024: +1.6 per year
Worst year for dust storm warnings: 2022 (60 warnings)
Total population: 2,293,764
County seat: Las Vegas

11. Graham County, AZ

Photo by R Gray on Unsplash

Average annual increase in NWS dust storm warnings, 2006-2024: +1.6 per year
Worst year for dust storm warnings: 2018 (49 warnings)
Total population: 38,860
County seat: Safford

10. Yuma County, AZ

Photo by Tyler Scheviak on Unsplash

Average annual increase in NWS dust storm warnings, 2006-2024: +1.7 per year
Worst year for dust storm warnings: 2022 (93 warnings)
Total population: 207,685
County seat: Yuma

9. Imperial County, CA

Photo by Kelley Ashbrook on Unsplash

Average annual increase in NWS dust storm warnings, 2006-2024: +1.7 per year
Worst year for dust storm warnings: 2022 (104 warnings)
Total population: 179,319
County seat: El Centro

8. San Bernardino County, CA

Photo by kristina zeleski on Unsplash

Average annual increase in NWS dust storm warnings, 2006-2024: +1.8 per year
Worst year for dust storm warnings: 2022 (82 warnings)
Total population: 2,187,816
County seat: San Bernardino

7. Mohave County, AZ

Photo by tommao wang on Unsplash

Average annual increase in NWS dust storm warnings, 2006-2024: +1.9 per year
Worst year for dust storm warnings: 2022 (82 warnings)
Total population: 217,420
County seat: Kingman

6. Yavapai County, AZ

Photo by Nicole Geri on Unsplash

Average annual increase in NWS dust storm warnings, 2006-2024: +2.0 per year
Worst year for dust storm warnings: 2022 (77 warnings)
Total population: 241,656
County seat: Prescott

5. Pinal County, AZ

Photo by Nick Wehrli on Pexels

Average annual increase in NWS dust storm warnings, 2006-2024: +2.2 per year
Worst year for dust storm warnings: 2018 (127 warnings)
Total population: 449,219
County seat: Florence

4. La Paz County, AZ

Photo by Clay Elliot on Unsplash

Average annual increase in NWS dust storm warnings, 2006-2024: +2.4 per year
Worst year for dust storm warnings: 2022 (128 warnings)
Total population: 16,605
County seat: Parker

3. Gila County, AZ

Photo by Allison Astorga on Unsplash

Average annual increase in NWS dust storm warnings, 2006-2024: +2.4 per year
Worst year for dust storm warnings: 2022 (78 warnings)
Total population: 53,610
County seat: Globe

2. Maricopa County, AZ

Photo by Kyle Kempt on Unsplash

Average annual increase in NWS dust storm warnings, 2006-2024: +2.9 per year
Worst year for dust storm warnings: 2022 (169 warnings)
Total population: 4,491,987
County seat: Phoenix

1. Pima County, AZ

Photo by Manny Pacheco on Unsplash

Average annual increase in NWS dust storm warnings, 2006-2024: +3.0 per year
Worst year for dust storm warnings: 2022 (115 warnings)
Total population: 1,049,947
County seat: Tucson

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