Dust Is Becoming a Bigger Problem: These Are the Counties With the Most Dust Storms
https://climate-crisis-247-bucket.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/07214946/dust-storm-map-150x150.pngThis month, plumes of westward dust blown in from the Sahara Desert caused hazy skies and degradations in air quality throughout Texas and the Southeast. The hazardous event was the latest in a series of dust storms — fueled by dust from both America’s deserts and overseas — that have triggered dozens of air quality alerts and may rank as one of the dustiest seasons in decades.
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Dust storm activity is spiking across the American Southwest, driven by intensifying drought, higher temperatures, and expanding arid landscapes. This June alone, multiple counties in New Mexico, Arizona, and California reported their highest number of dust storm warnings in over a decade. Once largely associated with the Great Plains, the country’s dust storm epicenter has shifted west, with the most severe activity now concentrated in Arizona’s Maricopa and Pinal counties. In some places, the frequency of dust storms has more than tripled since the mid-2000s, posing rising risks to public health, agriculture, and transportation systems. A closer look at the data reveals the counties where dust storms activity is rising the fastest.
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.
25. Rawlins County, KS
- NWS-issued dust storm warnings, 2006-2024: 77
- Worst year for dust storm warnings: 2022 (23 warnings)
- Total population: 2,533
- County seat: Atwood
24. Coconino County, AZ
- NWS-issued dust storm warnings, 2006-2024: 77
- Worst year for dust storm warnings: 2018 (27 warnings)
- Total population: 144,643
- County seat: Flagstaff
23. Whitman County, WA
- NWS-issued dust storm warnings, 2006-2024: 79
- Worst year for dust storm warnings: 2024 (40 warnings)
- Total population: 47,042
- County seat: Colfax
22. Adams County, WA
- NWS-issued dust storm warnings, 2006-2024: 80
- Worst year for dust storm warnings: 2024 (30 warnings)
- Total population: 20,690
- County seat: Ritzville
21. Otero County, NM
- NWS-issued dust storm warnings, 2006-2024: 80
- Worst year for dust storm warnings: 2024 (38 warnings)
- Total population: 68,235
- County seat: Alamogordo
20. Lincoln County, NV
- NWS-issued dust storm warnings, 2006-2024: 93
- Worst year for dust storm warnings: 2022 (38 warnings)
- Total population: 4,452
- County seat: Pioche
19. San Diego County, CA
- NWS-issued dust storm warnings, 2006-2024: 108
- Worst year for dust storm warnings: 2022 (40 warnings)
- Total population: 3,282,782
- County seat: San Diego
18. Nye County, NV
- NWS-issued dust storm warnings, 2006-2024: 112
- Worst year for dust storm warnings: 2022 (36 warnings)
- Total population: 53,207
- County seat: Tonopah
17. Hidalgo County, NM
- NWS-issued dust storm warnings, 2006-2024: 113
- Worst year for dust storm warnings: 2024 (25 warnings)
- Total population: 4,097
- County seat: Lordsburg
16. Santa Cruz County, AZ
- NWS-issued dust storm warnings, 2006-2024: 113
- Worst year for dust storm warnings: 2006 (25 warnings)
- Total population: 48,209
- County seat: Nogales
15. Inyo County, CA
- NWS-issued dust storm warnings, 2006-2024: 119
- Worst year for dust storm warnings: 2022 (34 warnings)
- Total population: 18,803
- County seat: Independence
14. Cochise County, AZ
- NWS-issued dust storm warnings, 2006-2024: 153
- Worst year for dust storm warnings: 2024 (27 warnings)
- Total population: 125,458
- County seat: Bisbee
13. Clark County, NV
- NWS-issued dust storm warnings, 2006-2024: 184
- Worst year for dust storm warnings: 2022 (60 warnings)
- Total population: 2,293,764
- County seat: Las Vegas
12. Mohave County, AZ
- NWS-issued dust storm warnings, 2006-2024: 218
- Worst year for dust storm warnings: 2022 (82 warnings)
- Total population: 217,420
- County seat: Kingman
11. Riverside County, CA
- NWS-issued dust storm warnings, 2006-2024: 240
- Worst year for dust storm warnings: 2022 (75 warnings)
- Total population: 2,449,909
- County seat: Riverside
10. Yavapai County, AZ
- NWS-issued dust storm warnings, 2006-2024: 252
- Worst year for dust storm warnings: 2022 (77 warnings)
- Total population: 241,656
- County seat: Prescott
9. Graham County, AZ
- NWS-issued dust storm warnings, 2006-2024: 265
- Worst year for dust storm warnings: 2018 (49 warnings)
- Total population: 38,860
- County seat: Safford
8. Yuma County, AZ
- NWS-issued dust storm warnings, 2006-2024: 278
- Worst year for dust storm warnings: 2022 (93 warnings)
- Total population: 207,685
- County seat: Yuma
7. San Bernardino County, CA
- NWS-issued dust storm warnings, 2006-2024: 286
- Worst year for dust storm warnings: 2022 (82 warnings)
- Total population: 2,187,816
- County seat: San Bernardino
6. Imperial County, CA
- NWS-issued dust storm warnings, 2006-2024: 307
- Worst year for dust storm warnings: 2022 (104 warnings)
- Total population: 179,319
- County seat: El Centro
5. Gila County, AZ
- NWS-issued dust storm warnings, 2006-2024: 319
- Worst year for dust storm warnings: 2022 (78 warnings)
- Total population: 53,610
- County seat: Globe
4. La Paz County, AZ
- NWS-issued dust storm warnings, 2006-2024: 380
- Worst year for dust storm warnings: 2022 (128 warnings)
- Total population: 16,605
- County seat: Parker
3. Pima County, AZ
- NWS-issued dust storm warnings, 2006-2024: 631
- Worst year for dust storm warnings: 2022 (115 warnings)
- Total population: 1,049,947
- County seat: Tucson
2. Pinal County, AZ
- NWS-issued dust storm warnings, 2006-2024: 850
- Worst year for dust storm warnings: 2018 (127 warnings)
- Total population: 449,219
- County seat: Florence
1. Maricopa County, AZ
- NWS-issued dust storm warnings, 2006-2024: 938
- Worst year for dust storm warnings: 2022 (169 warnings)
- Total population: 4,491,987
- County seat: Phoenix
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