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FAQ: ASU Dust Storm Scale and Arizona Monsoon 2026 Safety
Arizona State University, the National Weather Service, and the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality have launched a new 1-to-5 dust storm severity scale for the 2026 monsoon, incorporating wind speed, storm size, and PM10 concentration to enhance driver safety and reduce fatalities on hazardous roadways.
It is a 1-to-5 severity scale developed by Arizona State University, the National Weather Service, and the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality that rates dust storms based on wind speed, storm size, and particulate matter (PM10) concentration.
The scale was created to reduce fatalities on Arizona's most hazardous roadways by giving drivers and emergency personnel a more precise picture of approaching haboob conditions, especially as drought-intensified storms are projected to generate debris walls up to 10,000 feet with sustained winds near 60 mph.
The scale integrates PM10 air quality readings with traditional wind speed and storm size measurements to rate storms from 1 to 5. A storm rated at the upper end qualifies as a zero-visibility emergency under ADOT protocols.
ADOT's 'Pull Aside, Stay Alive' protocol instructs drivers to pull completely off the roadway, turn off all lights (including hazard lights), remove their foot from the brake pedal, keep their seatbelt fastened, and wait for the storm to pass before re-entering traffic.
Turning off all lights prevents stopped vehicles from being mistaken for moving traffic by disoriented drivers, and removing the foot from the brake eliminates brake light signals that can attract rear-end impacts in near-zero visibility.
The scale was developed through a joint initiative by Arizona State University, the National Weather Service, and the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.
The scale is being used during the 2026 Arizona monsoon season, which began in June, and applies to dust storms on Arizona roadways, particularly in Maricopa County and along interstates like I-10 and US-60.
Severe drought across the Southwest has dried the soil, producing finer and more abundant particulate matter that sustains larger haboobs for longer durations, increasing the risk of multi-car pileups and zero-visibility conditions.
Dust storm crashes present complex liability questions, especially involving commercial trucks, which may be subject to federal regulations. The Mesa law firm Rowley Chapman & Barney has released guidance on legal rights and insurance options for injured drivers.
Drivers can cross-reference the severity scale to assess whether a developing storm warrants pulling over before conditions deteriorate further, helping them decide when to implement the 'Pull Aside, Stay Alive' protocol.