Dust Storm Safety: Pull Aside, Stay Alive and Other Ways to Protect Yourself on the Road and at Home

Quick answer: if a dust storm reaches you while driving, the National Weather Service and Arizona Department of Transportation say “Pull Aside, Stay Alive.” Check traffic, slow down and pull off the road as far as possible, never stopping in a travel lane. Turn off all vehicle lights, including emergency flashers, set the parking brake, take your foot off the brake pedal, stay buckled and wait for the storm to pass. Drivers behind you may follow lights they see, so dark parked cars are less likely to be hit. At home, stay indoors with windows and doors closed and check air quality before going out.

A wall of dust can move across a desert highway faster than most drivers expect. Visibility can go from clear to almost nothing in seconds, and drivers who brake suddenly or stop in a lane can be hit by vehicles coming from behind. Dust storms cause deadly multi-vehicle crashes each year in the United States, especially in the Southwest and Plains.

This guide draws on safety guidance from the National Weather Service (NWS), the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), AirNow and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is part of our severe weather preparedness guide.

Sources: National Weather Service, dust storm safety and “Pull Aside, Stay Alive” guidance, Dust Storm Warning and Blowing Dust Advisory definitions, and monsoon safety; Arizona Department of Transportation, Pull Aside, Stay Alive campaign and Interstate 10 dust detection system; AirNow (EPA and partner agencies), particle pollution and air quality guidance; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Valley fever (coccidioidomycosis) information; Illinois State Police reports on the May 2023 Interstate 55 crash. Checked October 2026.

What Causes Dust Storms

Dust storms form when strong winds lift loose soil and sand into the air. They are most common in dry regions with exposed ground, including the deserts of Arizona, New Mexico, California, Nevada and West Texas, and farmland on the Great Plains after dry spells.

Haboobs

A haboob is a dust storm pushed by the outflow winds of a collapsing thunderstorm. These storms are a hallmark of the Southwest monsoon season, which the NWS defines as June 15 through September 30. Haboobs can appear as a towering wall of dust thousands of feet high and travel for many miles.

Dust from wind and fields

Strong cold fronts and windy days can also kick up dust, especially over plowed or drought-stricken fields. These storms can occur outside monsoon season. In May 2023, blowing dust from nearby farm fields led to a chain-reaction crash on Interstate 55 in central Illinois involving dozens of vehicles, and multiple people were killed, according to Illinois State Police.

Know the Alerts

The NWS issues several products for dust:

Alert	What it means
Blowing Dust Advisory	Blowing dust is reducing visibility, generally to between a quarter mile and one mile
Dust Storm Warning	Widespread or localized blowing dust is reducing visibility to a quarter mile or less, along with strong winds
Dust Storm Watch	Conditions may produce a dust storm, issued in some offices

Dust Storm Warnings can be sent as Wireless Emergency Alerts to phones in the affected area. Take them seriously, especially if you are driving or about to drive. Our guide to emergency alerts and NOAA Weather Radio explains how to make sure you receive them.

Before you drive

During monsoon season or on windy days, check the forecast and road conditions before a trip. If a dust storm is forecast or occurring along your route, delay the trip if you can. Some state transportation departments post real-time alerts and road conditions online and on highway message signs.

Pull Aside, Stay Alive: What to Do While Driving

ADOT and the NWS created the “Pull Aside, Stay Alive” campaign to explain the safest steps when dust surrounds your car.

If you see a dust storm approaching

• Do not drive into it. Exit the highway if you can, or pull off before reaching the dust.
• Check traffic around you and slow down gradually.

If you are caught in the dust

1. Check traffic and slow down. Avoid sudden braking.
2. Pull completely off the road as far to the right as possible. Do not stop in a travel lane or the emergency lane if you can get farther away.
3. Turn off all vehicle lights, including your emergency flashers.
4. Set your parking brake.
5. Take your foot off the brake pedal.
6. Stay in the vehicle with your seat belt buckled.
7. Wait for the storm to pass.

Why lights off?

Turning off lights feels wrong, but the reasoning is clear. ADOT explains that drivers caught in dust may follow the taillights ahead of them, believing those lights mark the road. If you are parked on the shoulder with lights on, a driver behind you may steer toward your car and crash into it. With lights off and your foot off the brake, your parked car is far less likely to become a target.

If you cannot pull off

The NWS advises that if you cannot safely pull off, you should:

• Keep your headlights on, so you can be seen.
• Drive slowly, at a speed suitable for visibility.
• Use the painted center line to guide you.
• Sound your horn periodically.
• Never stop on the pavement.

Look for a safe place to exit as soon as possible.

Dust Storms and Commercial Trucks

Large trucks face special risks in dust. They take longer to stop, sit higher in the wind and can be pushed by strong crosswinds, especially when empty. If you are driving a passenger car near trucks when dust appears, give them extra space and avoid lingering beside them. Truck drivers follow the same basic steps as everyone else: slow down gradually, get completely off the road if possible and turn off lights once parked, unless company or state rules direct otherwise.

Wind alone can be dangerous for high-profile vehicles such as box trucks, RVs and vehicles towing trailers. The NWS issues Wind Advisories and High Wind Warnings, which often accompany blowing dust. If you drive one of these vehicles, consider delaying travel during those alerts.

Why Dust Storm Crashes Become Pileups

Chain-reaction crashes in dust follow a pattern. Visibility drops suddenly, a driver brakes hard or stops in the lane, and vehicles behind cannot see the stopped car in time. Each new collision adds another obstacle for the next driver. Some drivers also speed up to “get through” the dust, which leaves even less time to react.

Following the Pull Aside, Stay Alive steps breaks that pattern. Slowing gradually, getting completely off the pavement and turning off lights all reduce the chance that your car becomes part of a pileup.

Technology on Arizona Highways

Arizona has invested in dust detection on Interstate 10 between Phoenix and Tucson, a stretch near Picacho Peak with a history of dust-related crashes. ADOT’s system uses detectors, cameras and variable speed limit signs to warn drivers and lower speed limits when dust is detected. Other states also use highway message boards to warn of dust. Pay close attention to those signs.

Safety at Home and Outdoors

If you are home

• Stay indoors and keep windows and doors closed.
• Bring pets inside.
• Set your air conditioner to recirculate if it has that setting, and change filters after dusty periods.
• Secure outdoor items that strong winds can toss, such as patio furniture and trash bins.
• Prepare for power outages, since the thunderstorms that cause haboobs can knock out power.

If you are outside

• Get indoors as soon as possible.
• Protect your eyes and airways. Cover your nose and mouth with a mask or cloth, and protect your eyes.
• Stay away from trees and power lines, which strong winds can bring down.

Walking, biking or riding

Dust storms are especially dangerous for people on foot, bikes and motorcycles. Seek shelter in a sturdy building. If none is nearby, get as far from the road as possible.

Air Quality and Health

Dust storms send large amounts of particle pollution into the air. AirNow, the federal air quality information site, reports levels of particles such as PM10 and PM2.5 and offers guidance on protecting your health.

People most sensitive to particle pollution include:

• People with asthma, COPD or other lung diseases
• People with heart disease
• Children and teens
• Older adults
• Pregnant people
• Outdoor workers

Check AirNow or your local air quality forecast during dusty conditions. When air quality is unhealthy, limit time outdoors and avoid strenuous activity. Well-fitting respirators such as N95 masks can reduce exposure to particles when you must be outside. Keep rescue inhalers and medications on hand.

Valley fever

In parts of the Southwest, dust carries another risk. The CDC explains that Valley fever is caused by the Coccidioides fungus, which lives in soil in the southwestern United States and parts of Washington state and Central and South America. People can become infected by breathing in spores from dust stirred up by wind or digging. Many people have no symptoms, but others develop flu-like illness with fatigue, cough, fever and shortness of breath. Talk to a doctor about Valley fever if you develop lingering respiratory symptoms after time in affected areas.

Car Kit for Dusty Regions

Anyone who drives through deserts or plains should carry supplies for long waits on the shoulder:

• Plenty of drinking water, since dust storms often happen in extreme heat
• Dust masks or N95 respirators
• Eye protection, such as goggles or wraparound sunglasses
• Wet wipes and towels for cleaning eyes and face
• A fully charged phone and car charger
• First aid supplies
• Snacks
• Sun protection
• A flashlight for after the storm passes

Our guide to a car emergency kit checklist covers the rest of the essentials. In summer, also remember heat safety, since sitting in a parked car in the desert can become dangerous. Our guide to extreme heat safety explains the warning signs.

After the Storm

When visibility improves, check traffic carefully before pulling back onto the road. Turn your lights back on, accelerate gradually and watch for stopped vehicles and debris. Dust storms can be followed by heavy rain and flash flooding, especially during monsoon season, so stay alert for flooded roads and never drive through water over the road.

At home, clean dust from air conditioner filters and check for property damage. If anyone in your household has trouble breathing, seek medical care.

Monsoon Season Preparedness

Dust storms are one part of the monsoon season, which also brings lightning, flash floods, strong winds and extreme heat. A full plan includes:

• Watching forecasts daily during the season
• Keeping alerts enabled on your phone
• Knowing alternate routes if roads close
• Stocking water and supplies at home and in the car
• Planning for power outages during heat

Teaching New and Visiting Drivers

Many dust storm crashes involve people unfamiliar with them, including new drivers and visitors from other regions. If you live in a dust-prone area, talk with teen drivers before their first monsoon season and share the Pull Aside, Stay Alive steps with visiting friends and family. ADOT’s campaign materials, including short videos, make the message easy to share. Practicing the sequence out loud, from slowing down to taking a foot off the brake, helps it become automatic when visibility suddenly drops.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do if I am driving and a dust storm hits?

Pull completely off the road, turn off all lights including flashers, set the parking brake, take your foot off the brake, stay buckled and wait for the storm to pass.

Why turn off my lights in a dust storm?

Drivers in dust may follow taillights they see. A parked car with lights on can be mistaken for a moving one and struck from behind.

What is a haboob?

A haboob is a dust storm driven by the outflow winds of a thunderstorm, common during the Southwest monsoon season from June 15 through September 30.

What is the difference between a Dust Storm Warning and a Blowing Dust Advisory?

Under a Dust Storm Warning, visibility is a quarter mile or less, while a Blowing Dust Advisory generally means visibility between a quarter mile and one mile.

Can dust storms affect my health?

Yes. Dust raises particle pollution, which can affect people with lung and heart conditions, and in parts of the Southwest it can carry the fungus that causes Valley fever.

The Bottom Line

Do not drive into a dust storm. If one catches you, pull aside, turn off your lights, set the brake, take your foot off the brake pedal and stay buckled until it passes. At home, stay inside with windows closed, check air quality and keep supplies ready for monsoon season.