Arizona Dust Storms Get New Ratings | Tucson News

Tucson News Today | 2 Min Now | The Daily News Now! · Jul 17, 2026 · 1m

Arizona State researchers unveil a groundbreaking dust storm rating system — categories one to five — measuring dust volume, duration, wind speed, and affected area. Four storms ranked this week: two Category 2, one Category 3, and a high-end Category 1. Analyzed within 24 hours, this new scale reveals shocking health risks: one hour in a Category 1 exposes you to 200,000–250,000 particles, soaring to 1.3 million in a Category 5 — a rarity, with only three such events in 15 years. Rain timing matters too: delayed rain amplifies storms, while immediate rain clears the air. The goal? Empower…