Dust Storm — Upper Columbia Basin, Washington
2022-09-08 · Upper Columbia Basin, Washington
$20K
Property damage
Event narrative
Highway 2 between mileposts 198 and 200 was closed due to reduced visibility from dust storm. Several collisions were reported.
Wider weather episode
Gusty North winds behind a cold front funneled down the Okanogan Valley and over the western portion of the Columbia Basin. Speeds reached into the 35 to 40 MPH. A long dry spell allowed the winds to pick up loose soil and dust from a recently worked farmland. It caused reduced visibility across the area and led collisions and road closures.
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1057541. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.