On Friday evening, a dramatic and unexpected weather event swept across Chicago, plunging parts of the city into near-zero visibility conditions. A powerful dust storm, the first of its kind ever recorded for the city, created a startling “wall of dust” that reduced visibility to a mere quarter-mile in some areas. The National Weather Service issued a dust storm warning – a first for Chicago – as high winds, reaching up to 60 mph, whipped across the South Side and beyond.
The unusual weather phenomenon occurred amidst a larger storm system that brought severe weather to the Midwest. High winds of 50 mph were predicted for the day, and a deadly tornado touched down in Missouri, highlighting the volatile atmospheric conditions. The dust itself originated from the south, and its rapid northward movement around 6:40 p.m. caught many residents by surprise. Midway Airport even recorded a wind gust of 59 mph during the height of the storm.
The National Weather Service’s Chicago office took to X (formerly Twitter) to express their astonishment, simply stating, “Well that was… something.” The agency reported that the dust storm began to subside around 7:40 p.m., with visibility gradually improving, though still significantly reduced.
The event serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of weather and the potential for unusual phenomena to impact even major metropolitan areas. While the dust storm itself was relatively short-lived, it caused significant disruption and highlighted the importance of staying informed during periods of severe weather. The incident also comes on the heels of reports of significant cuts to the National Weather Service, raising concerns about the agency’s ability to accurately predict and respond to future extreme weather events. The combination of high winds, a deadly tornado in a neighboring state, and a record-breaking dust storm in Chicago truly made for a day of unprecedented weather activity across the region.
