[Objective] The monthly and annual changes

the frequency and duration of dust storms

fly sand

and floating dust

and the relations between these and the main climatic factors in the desert area of the middle reaches of the Heihe River basin were analyzed. The aim was to provide a basis for the early warning of sand and dust weather

and the operation and management of desert areas.[Methods] The monitoring data and meteorological data of dust-related weather during 2010—2019 from the test station of desertification control of Hongshawo desert area in the Heihe River basin were used.[Results] Dust storms and fly sand weather were more frequent and longer in spring

followed by winter. The dust-related weather in spring and winter accounted for 82.3% and 79.4% of the frequency and length of these weather phenomena

respectively

across the whole year. In the past 10 years

the overall frequency of dust storms and fly sand gradually decreased

whereas the frequency of floating dust increased year by year

as did the duration of floating dust. The monthly variation in the frequency of floating dust weather was negatively correlated with soil moisture (10 cm depth) and atmospheric humidity (p<0.01)

and positively correlated with wind speed (p<0.01). The annual occurrence frequency of sandstorm weather was negatively correlated with soil temperature (5 cm depth

p<0.05) and significantly negatively correlated with atmospheric temperature (p<0.01).[Conclusion] In the past 10 years

sand and dust weather events mainly occurred in spring and winter in the desert area of the middle reaches of the Heihe River basin. The more destructive sandstorms and sand movements decreased over this period

whereas floating dust increased year by year. The main factors influencing the monthly variation in sand and dust weather frequency were shallow soil moisture

atmospheric humidity

and wind speed. The shallow soil moisture in spring affected the interannual frequency changes of sandstorms and raised dust

and the shallow soil temperature affected the interannual frequency changes of floating dust; the shallow soil temperature

humidity

and precipitation in winter affected the interannual frequency changes of sandstorms

whereas shallow layer soils and atmospheric temperature influenced the annual frequency change of fly sand.