Remarkable Dust Storm Strikes Chicago After Almost a Century, Photos Capture Intense Scene
In mid-May, a breathtaking wall of dust traversed through the U.S. Midwest, and our fortunate vantage point? Credits to NOAA's badass satellite, GOES East.
Didja know GOES-19's our newest toy in town, launched in late June 2024, taking over the GOES East spot back in April? This state-of-the-art satellite casually hovers 22,236 miles (35,785 kilometers) above our planet, watching over the Western Hemisphere like a sentinel of weather, climate, and wildfires.
Plus, by being at the right place at the right time, GOES East documents history in the making.
One dust storm waltzed through the Midwest on May 16, starting in northern Illinois and danced its way east through Chicago and northern Indiana. Originating from a group of severe thunderstorms in central Illinois, the winds picked up dust from dry farmlands as they progressed, eventually forming a massive dust cloud, with gusts running wild at over 60 mph (97 kph).
Here's where it got Wild 'n' Windy: This part of the country typically braces itself for Snow Squall Warnings, which drop visibility to zero and bring on howling winds. But this time, it was a curtain of dust that stirred commotion, with visibilities reaching close to zero at different instances.
Throughout the event, four separate Dust Storm Warnings were barked out by the National Weather Service (NWS) Forecast Office in Chicago, with wind speeds of at least 20 mph (32 kph) paired with widespread blowing dust, reducing visibility to 0.25 miles (0.4 kilometers) or less.
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While dust storms are infrequent across the Great Lakes region, they're downright rare for the Windy City. The most recent dust storm reported in Chicago took place on May 31, 1985, but diddly squat compared to the moxie we witnessed this time around.
Believe it or not, the NWS Chicago office confessed it's been almost a century since a storm of this size hit the city, dating back to the Dust Bowl era in the early to mid-1930s.
Good to Know
- Dust Storm BasicsTo appreciate a Midwest dust storm, it's important to recognize the conditions leading to such an event:
- Drought
- Weather patterns (storms, fronts)
- Agricultural practices, land use
- Health and Environmental ImpactsDespite their rarity, dust storms bring on both health and environmental concerns:
- Aggravated respiratory issues, accidents due to reduced visibility
- Harm to agriculture, livestock, and soil degradation
- NOAA's GOES East at WorkWhen it comes to tracking dust storms, NOAA's GOES East satellite is our ally in arms:
- Imagery and data collection
- Early warnings and disaster preparedness
For in-depth details about a specific Midwest dust storm in May of a given year, historical weather records and event reports from that period must be dug up.
- This rare dust storm that swept across the Midwest in May, reminiscent of Dust Bowl era events, was closely monitored by NOAA's GOES East satellite, aiding in imagery and data collection, as well as early warnings and disaster preparedness.
- In environmental science, it's crucial to understand the conditions leading to dust storms, such as drought, weather patterns, and agricultural practices, as these events can have significant impacts on health and the environment, including aggravated respiratory issues, accidents due to reduced visibility, harm to agriculture, livestock, and soil degradation.
- The science community remains vigilant with advancements, like the launch of GOES-19 in June 2024, taking over the GOES East spot. This state-of-the-art satellite continues to watch over the Western Hemisphere, offering insights into not only weather and wildfires but also environmental science, contributing to the understanding and prediction of events such as dust storms.
