NWS Phoenix AZDS.W 0011August 12, 2026
Dust Storm Warning: Imperial, CA
The National Weather Service office in Phoenix issued a dust storm warning for Imperial in California, which was in force until 5:30 p.m. local time on August 12. It was the 11th dust storm warning the NWS office in Phoenix issued in 2026. California had 5 dust storm warnings in August 2026, against 2 in an average August of 2008-2025 (California's dust storm warnings by year).
ExpiredWarning
In force for 59 minutes; it has expired. The agency may have replaced it with a new notice.
The notice
- Issued by
- National Weather Service, Phoenix AZ
- Area
- Imperial
- State
- California
- Level
- Warning
- Issued
- 4:31 p.m. PDT, August 12, 2026
- Expires
- 5:30 p.m. PDT, August 12, 2026
- CAP severity, certainty, urgency
- Severe, Likely, Expected
- VTEC event
- KPSR DS.W 0011
- Official source
- National Weather Service: the notice at its source
Source: National Weather Service: the notice at its source. AreaZine rebuilds this page from the agency's record; the agency's page is the one to act on. A U.S. Government work, in the public domain.
The notice as issued
The National Weather Service in Phoenix has issued a * Dust Storm Warning for... Southwestern Imperial County in southeastern California... * Until 530 PM PDT. * At 430 PM PDT, a wall of dust was pushing out from a severe thunderstorm near Calexico at moving out at 15 mph. HAZARD...Near zero visibility with strong wind in excess of 50 mph. SOURCE...Doppler radar. IMPACT...Dangerous life-threatening travel. * This includes the following highways... CA Interstate 8 between mile markers 22 and 81. CA Route 78 between mile markers 14 and 54. CA Route 111 between mile markers 1 and 34. Locations impacted include... El Centro, Calexico, Brawley, Imperial, Holtville, Westmorland, Gordon's Well, Algodones Dunes, Mt. Signal, El Centro Naval Airfield, Calipatria, Alamorio, Seeley, Wiest, and Bonds Corner.
What the agency told people to do
Dust storms lead to dangerous driving conditions with visibility reduced to near zero. If driving, avoid dust storms if possible. If caught in one, pull off the road, turn off your lights and keep your foot off the brake. Motorists should not drive into a dust storm. PULL ASIDE STAY ALIVE! Strong to severe thunderstorms are also possible behind this wall of dust. Keep updated with this quickly evolving situation.
Source: National Weather Service: the notice at its source. The text is the agency's, unedited. A U.S. Government work, in the public domain.