Dust Storm Hits Southern Peru, Blowing Through Arequipa and Pisco

On 31 July 2026, strong winds carrying dust swept across the southern Peruvian coast. In the Arequipa region the gusts reached up to 20 km/h on the coast and caused reduced visibility in districts such as La Joya, El Pedregal, Corire, and others. A wooden structure on the Punta Colorada bridge in Corire collapsed, and a resident was struck by falling timber.

The same weather system, known locally as the Paracas winds, produced a sandstorm in the province of Pisco with recorded speeds of 42.6 km/h. The national meteorological service Senamhi warned that the dust plume could move northward, affecting Lima and Callao, where winds of 27.7 km/h were measured and light drizzle was possible. Meteorologist Abraham Levy noted temperatures of 25 °C in Pisco and highlighted the risk of further visibility loss on the coast.