PlainHazard

Dust Storm

NOAA Storm Events type · 2,117 records since 1996 · 26 states and territories

The National Weather Service defines dust storm as: "Strong winds over dry ground, with little or no vegetation, that lift particles of dust or sand, reducing visibility below locally/ regionally established values (usually 1/4 mile or less), which could result in a fatality, injury, damage, or major disruption of transportation." NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 2,117 dust storm records from 1996 through June 30, 2026, the most in Arizona (764), with 92 deaths recorded.

How the National Weather Service files dust storm

Strong winds over dry ground, with little or no vegetation, that lift particles of dust or sand, reducing visibility below locally/ regionally established values (usually 1/4 mile or less), which could result in a fatality, injury, damage, or major disruption of transportation. If the event that occurred is considered significant, even though it affected a small area, it should be entered into Storm Data.
National Weather Service Instruction 10-1605, Storm Data Preparation (July 26, 2021), Appendix A, entry 11

Source: National Weather Service Instruction 10-1605. Read the instruction (PDF).

Dust Storm, 1996 to 2026

Records per year (2026 to June 30, 2026).

  • recorded, no damage figure
  • under $10 million
  • $10 million or more
  • $100 million or more
  • $1 billion or more, or 100 deaths
  • $10 billion or more, or 1,000 deaths
  • a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
  • a year with a death
Records
2,1171996 to June 30, 2026
Deaths
92958 injuries
Damage, 2025 dollars
$32Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
Counties with a record
404of 3,266

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026. Search the record at NCEI.

Where do dust storm records happen?

States

  1. Arizona 764
  2. Texas 274
  3. California 234
  4. Kansas 204
  5. New Mexico 148
  6. Washington 96
  7. Nevada 87
  8. Colorado 64
  9. Illinois 49
  10. Oklahoma 42
  11. Idaho 41
  12. Nebraska 36
  13. Oregon 17
  14. North Dakota 16
  15. Utah 8

Counties

  1. Pinal County, AZ 257
  2. Maricopa County, AZ 212
  3. Navajo County, AZ 65
  4. Riverside County, CA 61
  5. Yuma County, AZ 53
  6. Grant County, WA 51
  7. Grant County, NM 51
  8. Adams County, WA 48
  9. Apache County, AZ 48
  10. San Bernardino County, CA 47

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (forecast-zone records count on every county the zone covers).

When do dust storm records happen?

The busiest month is July.

The values, month by month

Jan 48 · Feb 157 · Mar 270 · Apr 259 · May 222 · Jun 165 · Jul 296 · Aug 276 · Sep 164 · Oct 124 · Nov 53 · Dec 83 (records).

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.

The deadliest dust storm records

The dust storm records with the most deaths
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2025-03-14 Dust StormSherman County, KS · forecast zone Sherman A wall of dust formed along the cold front that was advancing across the east half of the county. Loose soil from a field near I-70 added to the dust in the air. The visibility fell to zero at MM 28 just east of Edson leading to a multi-vehicle accident in both east and westbound lanes. Seventy-one vehicles, and 80 ... 8 45 –
2023-05-01 Dust StormMontgomery County, IL · forecast zone Montgomery Northwest winds gusting from 35-40 mph lofted dust from newly plowed farm fields resulting in near zero visibility across portions of northern Montgomery County in Illinois. The blowing dust significantly reduced visibility across portions of I-55 from Zanesville (Exit 63) north to Glenarm (Exit 83 – Sangamon County ... 8 37 –
2021-07-25 Dust StormJuab County and Millard County, UT · forecast zone Eastern Juab/Millard Counties Thunderstorm outflow winds generated blowing dust with near zero visibility along Interstate 15 near milepost 152 south of Fillmore. This resulted in a multi vehicle pileup with at least 22 vehicles involved, 8 fatalities, and 10 injuries. The nearest mesonet site located 7 miles south of the crash site recorded a ... 8 10 $327K
2025-03-01 Dust StormMaricopa County, AZ · forecast zone Tonopah Desert A fiery multi-vehicle collision pileup occurred on the eastbound lanes of I-10 near Tonopah, AZ. A shallow plume of dense blowing dust was observed on satellite imagery during the time of the accident, and although not officially confirmed, the dust is believed to have played a major role in the cause of the accident. ... 4 8 $300K
2009-12-22 Dust StormPinal County, AZ · forecast zone Central Deserts A sudden drop in visibility due to local blowing dust contributed to a massive pileup in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 10 on Tuesday morning. Winds at the time of the accident were estimated to be about 40 mph. About 9 trucks and 13 automobiles were involved in the accidents. Some vehicles caught on fire. Three ... 3 14 –
2013-10-29 Dust StormPinal County, AZ · forecast zone South Central Pinal County Antecedent dry conditions along with gusty winds of about 20 to 25 mph produced localized dense blowing dust that reduced visibility to near zero in parts of Pinal County. This localized blowing dust resulted in a multiple vehicle chain-reaction accident along Interstate 10 near Picacho at mile marker 214. The ... 3 12 $633K
2014-01-16 Dust StormThomas County, KS · forecast zone Thomas A small stretch of highway 83 just west of Rexford, Kansas in Thomas county experienced severe visibility reductions in blowing dirt early in the afternoon. Three separate accidents occurred around 1400 CST, involving a total of seven semi trailers and eight passenger vehicles. Multiple injuries and fatalities were ... 3 1 –
2025-02-27 Dust StormGrant County and Hidalgo County, NM · forecast zone Southwest Desert/Lower Gila River Valley Winds gusted over 50 mph at times along the Lordsburg Playa resulting in dust channels that created near zero visibilities. These visibilities affected Interstate 10 and caused an 11 vehicle accident around mile marker 10. The accident and continued reduced visibilities at times kept the interstate closed through much ... 3 0 –

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, deaths direct and indirect as filed.

The most recent dust storm records

To June 30, 2026
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2026-06-20 Dust StormGreeley County, KS · forecast zone Greeley 0 0 –
2026-06-20 Dust StormLogan County, KS · forecast zone Logan 0 0 –
2026-06-17 Dust StormGrant County and Hidalgo County, NM · forecast zone Southwest Desert/Lower Gila River Valley 0 0 –
2026-06-17 Dust StormGrant County and Hidalgo County, NM · forecast zone Southwest Desert/Lower Gila River Valley 0 0 –
2026-05-30 Dust StormYuma County, CO · forecast zone Yuma County 0 0 –
2026-05-30 Dust StormKeith County, NE · forecast zone Keith 0 5 –
2026-05-16 Dust StormGove County, KS · forecast zone Gove 0 0 –
2026-05-14 Dust StormWells County, ND · forecast zone Wells 0 0 –

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

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