How a rare atmospheric event sent hazardous dust deep into southern ChinaAn extraordinary dust storm that swept across southern China in April 2025 was caused by a rare chain of events stretching from the upper atmosphere to the Earth’s surface, according to new research. The study, published in Geophysical Research Letters, found that the unprecedented storm was not simply the result of strong surface winds. Dust storms are common in northern China, but they rarely reach the country’s southern regions because mountains and typical weather patterns usually block their path. The researchers say it was the most severe dust event recorded in southern China since nationwide monitoring began in 2015. The resulting pressure difference generated exceptionally strong northerly winds, carrying huge amounts of dust thousands of kilometres into southern China.