PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 03: Winds gusting to more than 50 mph fill the air around wind turbines with dust on September 3, 2023 near Palm Springs, California. The desert region from Palm Springs to Mecca is still recovering from extensive damage brought by recent powerful storms that delivered heavy rain and widespread flash floods. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
San Diego, California – A new report authored by researchers from seven University of California campuses draws urgent attention to an escalating but underrecognized environmental and public health threat: dust storms. The report, titled “Beyond the Haze: A UC Dust Report on the Causes, Impacts, and Future of Dust Storms in California,” reveals the alarming impacts of dust on millions of Californians and calls for immediate action to address this growing hazard.
The study, led by climate scientist Amato Evan of UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography, outlines how dust storms regularly affect more than 55,000 square miles of inland California—home to nearly five million residents—and how these storms, once considered rare or minor in the state, are now being recognized as a significant and worsening issue driven by climate change, drought, and land use changes.
“Dust is more than just a nuisance—it’s a serious health and environmental threat,” said Alexandria Heaney, a public health expert at UC San Diego. “We’re seeing spikes in respiratory illness, heart conditions, and Valley fever, especially in vulnerable communities like those in the San Joaquin and Imperial Valleys.”
Dust particles, often laced with industrial pollutants, can cause or worsen respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. The report also links dust storms to deadly traffic accidents due to reduced visibility, damage to crops from windblown abrasion, and the degradation of California’s agricultural output—the largest in the U.S.
Dust is also interfering with California’s push toward renewable energy. Layers of dust on solar panels reduce their efficiency, while darkened snowpacks in the Sierra Nevada mountains accelerate snowmelt, threatening the state’s already stressed water resources.
“California has never been thought of as a major dust source,” said UC Merced atmospheric scientist Adeyemi Adebiyi. “But data now show that regions like the Central Valley are significant contributors, with much of the dust stemming from agricultural sources.”
Despite the severity of the issue, there is currently no statewide dust forecasting or warning system. Communities impacted by dust storms lack basic information about when storms will occur and how long they will last. The researchers hope this report will spur action from lawmakers.
State Senator Steve Padilla, who authored a 2024 bill to fund a regional dust forecast pilot program in Imperial County and Coachella Valley, praised the study. Though his bill died in committee, he remains committed to pushing for legislative support.
“This research is vital,” Padilla said. “It provides science-based solutions to protect public health and improve the lives of those in dust-affected regions.”
The newly formed UC Dust Center brings together experts across disciplines—from climate science and public health to ecology and policy—to develop strategies to mitigate the risks. Their recommendations include creating early warning systems, investing in dust source mitigation, and building partnerships between communities and government agencies.
“We want to model where these haboobs—massive dust storms—will strike,” said UC Merced immunologist Katrina Hoyer. “That way, people can protect themselves and their families.”
As California’s climate becomes increasingly arid, the report warns that dust emissions will likely continue to rise, making swift, coordinated action not only necessary but urgent.
