UN: Sand and Dust Storms Hit China, Southern US Hardest

China and the southern United States endured some of the worst sand and dust storms in decades last year, impacting public health, the environment, and economic activity, according to the United Nations.

The World Meteorological Organization's (WMO) annual report highlighted significant regional variations in dust concentrations, though global averages remained similar to the previous year. The Bodele Depression in Chad recorded the highest annual mean dust concentrations worldwide.

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Every year, around 2,000 million tons of dust enters the atmosphere, and can be transported for hundreds of kilometers and even thousands of kilometers, across continents and oceans.

WMO chief Celeste Saulo stated that sand and dust storms affect air quality, human health, agricultural productivity, transport, and ecosystems. She stressed that "no country is immune to their impacts." The U.S. border region with Mexico experienced exceptionally frequent and intense dust storms in 2025, with El Paso, Texas, recording 50 days of dust weather, more than double its annual average. On March 18, inhalable particle concentrations in El Paso reached 2,064 micrograms per cubic meter, with a peak hourly reading of 8,142 micrograms, the highest in nearly three decades.

China faced its most intense, prolonged, and influential dust and sand storm in a decade in April 2025, with hourly PM10 concentrations exceeding 1,000 micrograms per cubic meter in northern regions, reaching up to 4,000 micrograms in some areas. Saulo called for cross-border data sharing to improve early warning systems, noting that artificial intelligence shows promise for enhancing forecasts, though further research is needed.

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Sand and dust storms affect air quality and human health. They reduce agricultural productivity, disrupt transport and aviation, strain water and energy systems, and damage ecosystems. No country is immune to their impacts.