Dust Storm — Chuckwalla Valley, California

2021-10-11 · Chuckwalla Valley, California

Event narrative

Video on social media from a broadcast meteorologist showed visibilities dropping as low a a quarter mile in blowing dust across Interstate-10, roughly 35 miles west of Blythe. Traffic was slowed due to the lowered visibilities. No accidents were reported.

Wider weather episode

A deep trough with a very strong jet streak produced gradient wind gusts at the surface up to 50-55 mph. The strong winds generated widespread blowing dust across Southeast California. A channel of dense blowing dust was reported along Interstate-10 in eastern Riverside County in the afternoon of the 11th. The dust impeded traffic, but no accidents were reported.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 990516. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.