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Lack of rain leads to longer-lasting dust
Arizona State University's new scale measures dust weight and particulate matter to assess storm severity and potential respiratory risks for vulnerable groups. FOX 10's Andrew Christiansen learns more about the dust causing persist problems.
PHOENIX - Dust has been clinging to the air across Phoenix following strong dust storms in the last week, leading to poor air quality and the potential for more monsoon storms in the coming days.
What we know:
While conditions cleared up temporarily, meteorologists report that dust storms tend to pop up in the late evening. These storms typically originate in the Tucson and Pima County area before moving toward Phoenix.
Both dust storms on Aug. 3 and Aug. 6 were Category 5. This marks the first year that Arizona State University is making its data public.
"The main idea at first for the scale was to create a way that would identify exceptional air quality events," Ryan Heintzman with ASU School of Geographica Sciences and Urban Planning said. "Basically, when we have particulate matter in high enough quantities, it becomes hazardous."
What they're saying:
The categories are based on the weight of the dust. While the National Weather Service looks at visibility during a storm, the scale measuring these categories evaluates wind speed, storm duration, and particulate matter. ASU also tracks hourly dust levels.
"It just kind of blew in, and then the event was seemingly over," Phoenix National Weather Service Meteorologist Alicia Ryan said. "There wasn't any further wind gusts to push it out of the area, and that's why it just stayed over the metro."
Health Concerns:
Frank LoVecchio, an emergency physician, said people like older adults, young kids and those with compromised immune systems are more at risk for health effects because of a dust storm.
"These particulate matters are small enough to get deep into your lung tree and when they do that, it can cause coughing, wheezing," he said. "For someone with severe asthma or COPD, a dust storm can turn a normal day into an emergency room visit."
When fungal spores from soil get kicked up into the air, it's also possible for people to get Valley Fever.
"It can cause an pneumonia-like illness in some people— cough, fever, fatigue, headache, shortness of breath," LoVecchio.
What you can do:
Those with health risks should stay indoors with the windows closed.
Looking Ahead:
Rain anticipated on Aug. 10 and Aug. 13 could help clear the remaining dust, which was not the case earlier in the week.
The Source: Information in this report was gathered from Arizona State University data, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, and Phoenix National Weather Service Meteorologist Alicia Ryan.