Dust Storm — Moses Lake Area, Washington

2021-03-28 · Moses Lake Area, Washington

Event narrative

Strong winds and dry conditions resulted in blowing dust and near zero visibility in southeastern Douglas County. A state trooper reported that an eight vehicle pile-up, with minor injuries, occurred along State Route 26, near Othello. Blowing dust led to hazardous driving conditions.

Wider weather episode

A passing cold front produced strong winds in eastern Washington on March 28th. Winds reached gusts of 50-65 mph. These powerful winds produced blowing dust in the dry Columbia Basin and damage due to downed trees in much of far eastern Washington. Blowing dust had significant impact on travel creating poor visibility on major interstates and highways. The strongest winds and damage occurred in the late afternoon and early evening which created hazardous roadways for the evening commute.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 948947. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.