CHICAGO, Ill. (WCIA) – The National Weather Service in Chicago indicated that they suspect yesterday’s uncommon and intense dust storm across Central and Northern Illinois might be characterized as a “Haboob” due to the nature of its formation.
A Haboob is a fierce dust storm triggered by strong winds raising a massive dust wall as high as 5,000 feet, which significantly reduces visibility and increases wind speed once the leading edge of the haboob passes. These conditions usually result in blowing dust that persists for tens of minutes or can last for several hours.
Haboobs normally occur in desert and semi-arid regions, but an exceptionally rare set of conditions, including very dry air aloft, resulted in intense downdrafts hitting the ground far ahead of storms. This mixed with low relative humidity, low soil moisture, and ongoing farming activities typical for this time of year, led to the event.
This dust storm/haboob was a wall of dust running east-west that stretched from along I-55 and I-39 near Bloomington all the way into Western Indiana, lifting north quickly and making it all the way into Lake Michigan.
Top wind gusts included 78 mph on Lake Michigan by Chicago, 75mph in Oxford, IN, 69 mph at Willard Airport, 64 mph in South Chicago, 61 mph in Decatur, 60 mph at Midway Airport and 55 mph in Joliet.
It was the first time the National Weather Service Office in Chicago had issued a dust storm warning for the city. They issued a total of four dust storm warnings. The last time they issued a dust storm warning for their county warning area was on May 7th, 2023 for parts of Ford, Livingston and Iroquois Counties.
The National Weather Service in Lincoln has issued dust storm warnings before. There’s been a number of dust storm warnings used since a massive fiery pile-up killed 8 people on I-55 south of Springfield in 2023.
The dust storm caused many crashes and a few pile-ups, including some on I-55, I-74, US-136, IL-10 and IL-165 in Central Illinois according to state police and local fire departments.
State Police closed part of I-74 west of Farmer City for a period of time to respond to the crashes Friday evening. It has since reopened.
One crash west of Fisher sent 4 people to the hospital. Officials in Ford County also responded to a 7 vehicle pile-up on IL 165 west of Sibley involving a tow truck, 5 cars and an RV. No one was hurt there.
The last time Chicago was impacted by such a significant dust storm was during the Dust Bowl on May 10th, 1934.
Photo Below: Kim Schmidt from Chicago during the dust and what her view normally looks like.
