Targeted Dust Storm Warnings Implemented

The National Weather Service (NWS) issues Dust Storm Warnings to save lives, especially along high-speed roads. Historically, dust storms in the southwest have resulted in horrific accidents, sometimes involving as many as 100 vehicles with resulting injuries and fatalities due to visibility reduction. In the past, it has been very difficult to get Dust Storm Warning notifications to the travelling public. New technology developments, particularly the cell phone Wireless Emergency Alerts established in 2012, now provide new, more effective ways to alert the public. To take advantage of this, the NWS implemented targeted, polygon-based Dust Storm Warnings in 2018 which allow warning meteorologists to identify the specific locations that will be impacted. The first stage of the rollout allowed NWS Phoenix and Tucson offices to issue these warnings with the remainder of the nation to follow suit later in 2018. The timely implementation coincided with the beginning of the southwest monsoon as both offices issued these warnings in July 2018. These new warnings have tremendous advantages over the legacy zone-based warnings such as a dramatic reduction in the false alarm population warned by cell phone, more rapid dissemination to the public, and a much simpler and faster process to issue the warnings. This presentation will take a look at the early results and review the service improvement that was provided including partner comments.