A new report by University of California researchers warns that it’s time to get serious about dust storms. Historical records suggest the state’s dust emissions are now higher than ever, while the forecast points to increasing dustiness and a rising toll on public health, the environment and farming.
Windblown soil is a feature of the state’s desert lands, and it can wind up in oceans, mountains and valleys thousands of miles away, scientists say.
Even San Diego has experienced dust storms, including one in 1961 that caused accidents and road closures. In 2022, after a huge dust storm hit the Imperial Valley, a warning was issued by the National Weather Service for communities along Interstate 8 in San Diego County.
The Salton Sea, 100 miles east, with its exposed lakebed, is one of five main regions where dust storms occur in California…