Measuring Arizona's Dust Storms

Guest: Amber Sullins, Chief Meteorologist at ABC15 When most people think about dangerous weather, they think about hurricanes, tornadoes, or blizzards. But in the deserts of the Southwest, one of the most impactful—and often overlooked—hazards can arrive as a towering wall of dust. Today on Weather Geeks, we're joined by Amber Sullins, a longtime Arizona meteorologist who has spent her career helping people navigate everything from extreme heat and monsoon storms to the massive dust storms that have become synonymous with life in the desert Southwest. We'll talk about her journey forecasting some of the country's most unique weather, and we'll take a deep dive into the development of the new PHX-DUST scale—a groundbreaking effort designed to classify dust storms and better communicate their impacts to the public. From the science behind the scale to the challenges of translating complex research into actionable information, we'll explore how meteorologists are working to improve awareness and resilience in the face of one of Arizona's signature weather threats. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Dust Storms in the Southwest 01:00 Amber Sullins' Journey in Meteorology 02:21 Unique Weather Challenges in Arizona 03:22 Forecasting Monsoon and Dust Storms 05:05 Factors Influencing Dust Storm Severity 07:16 Impact of Water Scarcity on Dust Storms 08:40 Health Risks from Dust Storm Particulates 10:33 Types of Dust Storms and Their Detection 14:15 Break 1 14:18 Development of the Phoenix Dust Scale 17:02 Using Air Quality Data for Dust Severity 20:27 Safety Tips for Dust Storms 22:11 Assessing Dust Storm Intensity Quickly 24:17 Applicability of the Dust Scale Elsewhere 25:19 Break 2 28:37 Sharing the Dust Scale with the Public 30:01 Acceptance and Validation of the Scale 32:41 Future Weather Challenges in Arizona 33:40 Upcoming Weather Events and Outlook Resources phoenixdust.asu.edu - https://phoenixdust.asu.edu American Meteorological Society - https://www.ametsoc.org Arizona State University - https://www.asu.edu