Dust Storm — Upper Columbia Basin, Washington
2025-04-16 · Upper Columbia Basin, Washington
$15K
Property damage
Event narrative
Near zero visibility on Interstate 90 at milepost 206 led to a collision, and a 1.5 mile backup of westbound lanes. Traffic closure lasted roughly 2 hours.
Wider weather episode
The dry cold front moved through the region during the afternoon and early evening hours. Wind speeds were in the teens with gusts up to 30 MPH being reported. The Basin was experiencing a prolonged period of lack of precip. It led to blowing dust reducing visibility and an auto accident along interstate 90. It also caused tree damage and power outages for portions of Northeast Washington.
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1257676. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.