Dust Storm in Moses Lake Area, Washington

Dust Storm May 27, 2021 · Moses Lake Area, Washington

$150K

Damage as recorded

What the National Weather Service wrote

Strong winds, with gusts up to 50 mph, and dry conditions led to numerous dust storms throughout the afternoon in the Columbia Basin. The Department of Highways reported significant blowing dust with near zero visibility across roadways. Decreasing visibility contributed to multiple collisions on Interstate 90 around Moses Lake. This led to road closures for several hours. Avista Utilities reported power outages in the Othello area around the time of peak winds.

The wider storm

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 959932. Narratives are written by the National Weather Service forecast office that issued the report.

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