Skip to content

Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026

Do El Paso dust storms start in spring?

Brandy Ruiz, El Paso Matters
no

Dust storms in El Paso typically begin in February, according to a 2024 study by Texas Tech University’s Department of Geosciences that analyzed 21 years of dust events.

Dust storms, as defined by the National Weather Service, occur suddenly and often appear as an advancing wall of dust and debris. In 2026, spring officially begins March 20, according to the U.S. Naval Observatory’s Astronomical Applications Department. 

On average, El Paso sees 22 dust events per year, according to the study. The number of dust storms increases between March and June.

In 2025, six dust storms occurred in El Paso between March and June, according to National Weather Service data. 

Among West Texas cities examined in the study, El Paso had the third-highest average number of dust storm events, behind Lubbock (29) and Midland (26).

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

Sources

About fact briefs

Fact briefs are bite-sized, well-sourced explanations that offer clear "yes" or "no" answers to questions, confusions, and unsupported claims circulating online. They rely on publicly available data and documents, often from the original source. Fact briefs are written and published by newsrooms in the Gigafact network.

See all fact briefs

El Paso Matters is a member-supported nonpartisan media organization that uses journalism to expand civic capacity in our region. We inform and engage with people in El Paso, Ciudad Juárez and neighboring communities to create solutions-driven conversations about complex issues shaping our region.

Learn More

Latest Fact Briefs

Be a Friend of facts

Help us fund more great fact briefs like this one.