Dust Storm — Upper Columbia Basin, Washington
2021-05-27 · Upper Columbia Basin, Washington
$20K
Property damage
Event narrative
Strong winds, with gusts from 40 to 55 mph, led to blowing dust and near zero visibility in Odessa. There were no reports of accidents in the area. Avista Utilities reported power outages in the Odessa area around the time of peak winds.
Wider weather episode
A cold front passage brought strengthening and shifting winds on May 27th. Gusts reached speeds of 40 to 55 mph across the Interstate 90 and US Highway 2 corridors. The current drought, with loose field soils, produced the prime conditions for blowing dust from the strong winds.
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 959928. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.