Dust Storms Are Surging Throughout The Southwest: These Are the Places That Get Hit the Hardest
https://climate-crisis-247-bucket.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/07222400/dust-storm-map-150x150.pngA series of intense dust storms swept through El Paso this month, turning skies orange and forcing road closures across the region. The events are part of a broader pattern of increasing dust storm activity across the American Southwest, a threat growing in tandem with rising temperatures, prolonged drought, and expanding arid landscapes.
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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 National Weather Service issues more than 50 dust storm warnings a year, a threat to property and public health. A closer look at the data reveals the counties where dust storms occur the most often.
To determine the counties with the most dust storm activity, Climate Crisis 247 reviewed data on historical Dust Storm Warnings issued by the National Weather Service. Counties were ranked based on the total number of 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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