‘Haboob storms’ Are Sweeping Through the Southwest, Leaving These 25 Cities Covered in Dust

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This week, intense thunderstorms in the Southwest created a series of haboobs – high walls of dust – that swept through major metros in the area. The dust storms exposed millions to dangerous particulate matter, and forced a Phoenix airport to temporarily halt flight activity.

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While the dust storms settle, dozens of major cities are left with unsafe levels of particulate matter concentration. No amount of particulate matter is safe to breathe, and in cities spanning at least three states the concentration of vertical dust is more than one microgram per cubic meter of air. A closer look at the data reveals the cities with the highest concentrations of dust right now.

To determine the cities with the highest concentrations of dust right now, Climate Crisis 247 reviewed data on current dust concentration 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.

25. Tempe, AZ

• Current concentration of vertical dust: 1.2 µg/m³
• Maximum daily temperature: 99.9°F
• Total population: 181,005

 

24. Washington, UT

• Current concentration of vertical dust: 1.2 µg/m³
• Maximum daily temperature: 89.4°F
• Total population: 29,161

 

23. Mesa, AZ

• Current concentration of vertical dust: 1.2 µg/m³
• Maximum daily temperature: 99.7°F
• Total population: 503,390

 

22. Alamogordo, NM

• Current concentration of vertical dust: 1.3 µg/m³
• Maximum daily temperature: 89.2°F
• Total population: 30,996

 

21. Gilbert, AZ

• Current concentration of vertical dust: 1.3 µg/m³
• Maximum daily temperature: 100.0°F
• Total population: 267,267

 

20. Apache Junction, AZ

• Current concentration of vertical dust: 1.3 µg/m³
• Maximum daily temperature: 98.2°F
• Total population: 38,855

 

19. Casa Grande, AZ

• Current concentration of vertical dust: 1.5 µg/m³
• Maximum daily temperature: 95.7°F
• Total population: 55,186

 

18. Phoenix, AZ

• Current concentration of vertical dust: 1.5 µg/m³
• Maximum daily temperature: 99.3°F
• Total population: 1,609,456

 

17. Scottsdale, AZ

• Current concentration of vertical dust: 1.6 µg/m³
• Maximum daily temperature: 95.7°F
• Total population: 240,537

 

16. Peoria, AZ

• Current concentration of vertical dust: 1.7 µg/m³
• Maximum daily temperature: 98.4°F
• Total population: 191,292

 

15. Avondale, AZ

• Current concentration of vertical dust: 1.7 µg/m³
• Maximum daily temperature: 99.8°F
• Total population: 89,214

 

14. Queen Creek, AZ

• Current concentration of vertical dust: 1.7 µg/m³
• Maximum daily temperature: 99.1°F
• Total population: 61,788

 

13. Sun City, AZ

• Current concentration of vertical dust: 1.8 µg/m³
• Maximum daily temperature: 100.3°F
• Total population: 37,748

 

12. Glendale, AZ

• Current concentration of vertical dust: 1.8 µg/m³
• Maximum daily temperature: 100.1°F
• Total population: 248,083

 

11. Chandler, AZ

• Current concentration of vertical dust: 1.8 µg/m³
• Maximum daily temperature: 99.9°F
• Total population: 275,618

 

10. Yuma, AZ

• Current concentration of vertical dust: 1.8 µg/m³
• Maximum daily temperature: 101.0°F
• Total population: 96,314

 

9. Surprise, AZ

• Current concentration of vertical dust: 1.9 µg/m³
• Maximum daily temperature: 99.4°F
• Total population: 145,591

 

8. Sun City West, AZ

• Current concentration of vertical dust: 1.9 µg/m³
• Maximum daily temperature: 99.9°F
• Total population: 26,639

 

7. El Mirage, AZ

• Current concentration of vertical dust: 1.9 µg/m³
• Maximum daily temperature: 101.0°F
• Total population: 35,652

 

6. Roswell, NM

• Current concentration of vertical dust: 1.9 µg/m³
• Maximum daily temperature: 92.8°F
• Total population: 48,035

 

5. Goodyear, AZ

• Current concentration of vertical dust: 1.9 µg/m³
• Maximum daily temperature: 100.6°F
• Total population: 97,542

 

4. Carlsbad, NM

• Current concentration of vertical dust: 2.4 µg/m³
• Maximum daily temperature: 93.1°F
• Total population: 31,755

 

3. Buckeye, AZ

• Current concentration of vertical dust: 2.6 µg/m³
• Maximum daily temperature: 99.8°F
• Total population: 95,042

 

2. Maricopa, AZ

• Current concentration of vertical dust: 2.7 µg/m³
• Maximum daily temperature: 99.1°F
• Total population: 59,605

 

1. Fortuna Foothills, AZ

• Current concentration of vertical dust: 2.9 µg/m³
• Maximum daily temperature: 99.0°F
• Total population: 27,552

 

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