Phoenix Dust Storm Reaches Rare Category 5 on PHX Dust Storm Scale
A dust storm that hit Phoenix, Arizona, on Monday night has been rated a Category 5 on the PHX Dust Storm Scale, marking it as one of the most severe dust storms recorded in the area. This scale, developed by an ASU-led team, measures the severity of dust storms based on dust concentration in the air. Category 5 events are rare, with only five recorded in the past 15 years. The storm resulted in unhealthy air quality persisting into Tuesday evening. Dr. Ryan Heintzman, a professor at ASU, explained that during a Category 5 event, individuals could inhale over a million pieces of dust if outside for an hour. 
