The UA has created a new app to alert drivers of dust storms and what to do in the event of a dust storm.

The inventor behind The Dust Storm is Kirk Astroth, UA assistant dean of Arizona Cooperative Extension and director of the Arizona 4-H Youth Development program in the UA College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, according to Mike Crimmins, associate professor of SWES and ACE specialist.

“The app is useful because they [dust storms] are sudden and dangerous and can catch people by surprise,” Crimmins said. “Dust storms most frequently happen in the spring with late winter storms and they will happen several times in the monsoon season with large thunderstorm outbreaks.”

The Dust Storm App warns people when a dust storm is going to happen near their location. It also provides several important tips on what to do such as: Do not drive through dust storm, pull directory off the road with lights off and find a safe place to remain until dust storm has ended, according to Robert Armstrong, senior website designer and developer for ACE.

The Dust Storm app is free on the iTunes store and will later be available for Android accessories.