Spatial, temporal, and meteorological impact of the 26 February 2023 dust storm: increase in particulate matter concentrations across New Mexico and West Texas

Abstract. The southwestern portions of the United States experience dust events frequently due to arid and semi-arid environments and close proximity to multiple deserts. On 26 February 2023, a dust event was initiated in New Mexico due to strong winds aloft mixing down to the surface. The dust intensified as it moved eastward into West Texas and developed into a dust storm (visibility <1 km) for multiple locations. This study examined the meteorological characteristics of this dust storm using 28 meteorological stations and examined the impacts on PM2.5 and/or PM10 (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter <2.5 and 10 µm) concentrations using 19 air quality stations. The dust event lasted up to ∼16 h; dust storm conditions lasted from 5 to 120 min. The highest wind speed and wind gust recorded during the dust episode were 27 and 37 m s−1, respectively. This dust had a strong impact on the air quality in the area, as very high PM values were recorded across the region, and nine of the PM stations exceeded the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) daily threshold. The maximum hourly PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations recorded were 518 and 9983 µg m−3, respectively. These concentrations at the peak of the dust were an order of magnitude higher than the minimum hourly PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations recorded on the dust day. The highest hourly PM10–PM2.5 concentration recorded was 760 ± 1000 µg m−3, while the lowest hourly PM2.5 / PM10 concentration measured was 0.05 ± 0.01.