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National Weather ServiceDust AdvisoryVTEC DS.YArchive to October 1, 2026

Dust Advisory: what it means and how often it is issued

The National Weather Service issued 238 dust advisories in 2025 and 151 a year on average in 2018-2025; Arizona, New Mexico and Texas got the most in 2021-2025. 2026 through September: 185, 30% above the average of 143 for those months in 2008-2025.

What is a dust advisory?

A dust advisory means blowing dust or sand will cut visibility to between a quarter mile and one mile, a hazard to drivers. An advisory is issued for a hazard less serious than a warning that can still cause inconvenience or danger if people are not careful.

Warning, watch or advisory: the three levels compared

Source: National Weather Service directives and glossary.

How many dust advisories a year?

238 dust advisories in 2025
1002003002018: 13320182019: 6520192020: 8520202021: 9720212022: 28320222023: 12520232024: 18220242025: 23820252026: 18520262018-2025 average 1512026 through September: 1851002003002018: 13320182019: 6520192020: 8520202021: 9720212022: 28320222023: 12520232024: 18220242025: 23820252026: 18520262018-2025 average 1512026 through September: 1851002003002018: 13320182019: 6520192020: 8520202021: 9720212022: 28320222023: 12520232024: 18220242025: 23820252026: 18520262018-2025 average 1512026 through September: 1851002003002018: 13320182019: 652020: 8520202021: 972022: 28320222023: 1252024: 18220242025: 2382026: 18520262018-2025 average 1512026 through September: 185

National count: each dust advisory counted once, whatever the number of states it covers. 2026 is an outline: the year is not over.

The numbers
YearCount
2026 (through September)185
2025238
2024182
2023125
2022283
202197
202085
201965
2018133

Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 1, 2026.

When in the year?

Dust Advisories by month, 2018-2025
200400Jan: 13JanFeb: 31FebMar: 77MarApr: 67AprMay: 95MayJun: 141JunJul: 309JulAug: 293AugSep: 115SepOct: 41OctNov: 18NovDec: 8Dec309200400Jan: 13JanFeb: 31FebMar: 77MarApr: 67AprMay: 95MayJun: 141JunJul: 309JulAug: 293AugSep: 115SepOct: 41OctNov: 18NovDec: 8Dec309200400Jan: 13JanFeb: 31FebMar: 77MarApr: 67AprMay: 95MayJun: 141JunJul: 309JulAug: 293AugSep: 115SepOct: 41OctNov: 18NovDec: 8Dec309200400Jan: 13JFeb: 31FMar: 77MApr: 67AMay: 95MJun: 141JJul: 309JAug: 293ASep: 115SOct: 41ONov: 18NDec: 8D309

Sum of 2018-2025; the busiest month is labelled.

Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 1, 2026.

Which states get the most dust advisories?

Arizona gets the most: 83 a year in 2021-2025
ArizonaArizona: 8383New MexicoNew Mexico: 5555TexasTexas: 2424CaliforniaCalifornia: 1717NevadaNevada: 1111WashingtonWashington: 55KansasKansas: 44IdahoIdaho: 33ColoradoColorado: 33NebraskaNebraska: 22ArizonaArizona: 8383New MexicoNew Mexico: 5555TexasTexas: 2424CaliforniaCalifornia: 1717NevadaNevada: 1111WashingtonWashington: 55KansasKansas: 44IdahoIdaho: 33ColoradoColorado: 33NebraskaNebraska: 22ArizonaArizona: 8383New MexicoNew Mexico: 5555TexasTexas: 2424CaliforniaCalifornia: 1717NevadaNevada: 1111WashingtonWashington: 55KansasKansas: 44IdahoIdaho: 33ColoradoColorado: 33NebraskaNebraska: 22ArizonaArizona: 8383New MexicoNew Mexico: 5555TexasTexas: 2424CaliforniaCalifornia: 1717NevadaNevada: 1111WashingtonWashington: 55KansasKansas: 44IdahoIdaho: 33ColoradoColorado: 33NebraskaNebraska: 22

Yearly average per state, 2021-2025. A dust advisory covering two states counts in both.

StateA year, 2021-2025A year, 2018-20252025
Arizona837671
New Mexico5540124
Texas241836
California17156
Nevada11810
Washington546
Kansas432
Idaho322
Colorado323
Nebraska223
Oregon111
Illinois112
North Dakota002
Indiana001
Oklahoma000
Wyoming000

Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 1, 2026.