A synoptic climatology of blowing dust events in El Paso, Texas from 1932-2005

Abstract

We have compiled a synoptic climatology of significant blowing dust events at El Paso, Texas, based on observational data from the El Paso International Airport from 1932 through 2005. 1093 cases were documented based on visibility reductions of 6 miles or less for duration of 2 hours or more. Blowing dust is a common phenomenon at El Paso, Texas, and in the surrounding Chihuahuan Desert lowland areas, especially in the spring season: during the months of March, April, and May there is a 42% chance of encountering blowing dust on any single day (Figure 1) based on the monthly frequency distribution of dust events. Blowing dust has always been a prominent and noteworthy feature in El Paso, Texas, as noted in a news article reporting on a storm in 1895 (Cox, 2005): “A Big Blow hit El Paso late on the night of April 4 (1895)...by the midnight the anemometer at the Weather Bureau registered 50 mph and continue to gain strength...The wind took down many of the city’s scarce trees and ripped away telegraph, telephone and power lines, leaving the city without electric lights.”