20 Cities Getting Pummeled With Dust Storms, Sparking ‘Valley Fever’ Fears

By Evan Comen  •  September 8, 2025
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In recent weeks, dangerous dust storms have pummeled the Southwest. Heavy winds in Nevada caused a massive dust storm to blow through Burning Man, grinding the festival to a halt, and earlier haboobs in Phoenix caused an airport shutdown.

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Increasing dust storm activity has raised concerns about Valley Fever. A fungal infection caused by the inhalation of fungal spores found in soil, Valley Fever cases have spiked throughout the Southwest this year. As dust storms continue to blow through the Southwest and Midwest, dozens of major cities are at risk. A closer look at the data reveals the cities where rising dust concentrations are elevating the risk of Valley Fever and other health complications.

To determine the cities where dust is the worst right now, Climate Crisis 247 reviewed data on dust concentrations from the NOAA. Cities were ranked based on the average concentration of vertical dust as of August 28, 2025. Zonal statistics were calculated using Census Bureau boundaries in GIS. Only cities with at least 25,000 residents were considered.

20. Salina, KS

Photo by Matthieu Joannon on Unsplash

  • Current concentration of vertical dust: 4.2 µg/m³
  • Maximum daily temperature: 81.8°F
  • Total population: 46,734
 

19. Lenexa, KS

Photo by Nathan Vogele on Unsplash

  • Current concentration of vertical dust: 4.5 µg/m³
  • Maximum daily temperature: 77.1°F
  • Total population: 57,497
 

18. Kansas City, KS

Photo by Taylor Finklea on Unsplash

  • Current concentration of vertical dust: 4.6 µg/m³
  • Maximum daily temperature: 77.5°F
  • Total population: 155,438
 

17. Shawnee, KS

Photo by Benjamin White on Pexels

  • Current concentration of vertical dust: 5.6 µg/m³
  • Maximum daily temperature: 77.6°F
  • Total population: 67,671
 

16. Lake Havasu City, AZ

Photo by Chris Kofoed on Unsplash

  • Current concentration of vertical dust: 5.9 µg/m³
  • Maximum daily temperature: 99.5°F
  • Total population: 57,294
 

15. Leavenworth, KS

Photo by Ben Soyka on Unsplash

  • Current concentration of vertical dust: 6.0 µg/m³
  • Maximum daily temperature: 76.8°F
  • Total population: 37,193
 

14. Bullhead City, AZ

Photo by Natalie Wagner on Unsplash

  • Current concentration of vertical dust: 6.1 µg/m³
  • Maximum daily temperature: 99.9°F
  • Total population: 41,593
 

13. Palm Desert, CA

Photo by Steve Ussery on Unsplash

  • Current concentration of vertical dust: 7.2 µg/m³
  • Maximum daily temperature: 99.3°F
  • Total population: 51,290
 

12. Twentynine Palms, CA

Photo by Vladimir Haltakov on Unsplash

  • Current concentration of vertical dust: 7.5 µg/m³
  • Maximum daily temperature: 96.3°F
  • Total population: 28,006
 

11. Brawley, CA

Photo by Chris Montgomery on Unsplash

  • Current concentration of vertical dust: 7.8 µg/m³
  • Maximum daily temperature: 101.6°F
  • Total population: 26,509
 

10. El Centro, CA

Photo by Kelley Ashbrook on Unsplash

  • Current concentration of vertical dust: 8.0 µg/m³
  • Maximum daily temperature: 100.3°F
  • Total population: 44,184
 

9. Hutchinson, KS

Photo by Peter Strydom on Unsplash

  • Current concentration of vertical dust: 8.7 µg/m³
  • Maximum daily temperature: 80.1°F
  • Total population: 39,995
 

8. Manhattan, KS

Photo by Sayaka Ganz on Unsplash

  • Current concentration of vertical dust: 8.9 µg/m³
  • Maximum daily temperature: 77.1°F
  • Total population: 54,287
 

7. Prescott Valley, AZ

Photo by Joshua McLaughlin on Unsplash

  • Current concentration of vertical dust: 8.9 µg/m³
  • Maximum daily temperature: 84.2°F
  • Total population: 47,015
 

6. Prescott, AZ

Photo by Randy Bailey on Unsplash

  • Current concentration of vertical dust: 9.4 µg/m³
  • Maximum daily temperature: 82.1°F
  • Total population: 46,054
 

5. Kingman, AZ

Photo by tommao wang on Unsplash

  • Current concentration of vertical dust: 9.6 µg/m³
  • Maximum daily temperature: 87.9°F
  • Total population: 33,052
 

4. Calexico, CA

Photo by Rares Ioan on Unsplash

  • Current concentration of vertical dust: 9.7 µg/m³
  • Maximum daily temperature: 99.9°F
  • Total population: 38,599
 

3. Indio, CA

Photo by Daniel S on Unsplash

  • Current concentration of vertical dust: 10.8 µg/m³
  • Maximum daily temperature: 99.9°F
  • Total population: 89,616
 

2. La Quinta, CA

Photo by Diane Carmony on Unsplash

  • Current concentration of vertical dust: 11.1 µg/m³
  • Maximum daily temperature: 99.7°F
  • Total population: 37,933
 

1. Coachella, CA

Photo by Logan Voss on Unsplash

  • Current concentration of vertical dust: 17.1 µg/m³
  • Maximum daily temperature: 100.0°F
  • Total population: 42,279