Dust storm covers Chicago with near-zero visibility conditions

A dust storm that brought visibility to near zero swept across the Chicago area Friday, prompting the first dust storm warning ever issued to the city, officials said. The “wall of dust” that struck the South Side and other areas occurred on a day in which high winds of 50 mph were forecast, and as a storm system caused at least one deadly tornado in Missouri. The dust came in from the south, moving north, around 6:40 p.m. with winds of up to 60 mph, the National Weather Service said. Midway Airport recorded a gust of 59 mph, the weather agency said, and visibility was reduced to around a quarter-mile. The phenomenon is unusual for Chicago. The dust storm warning issued by the weather service was the first ever for Chicago itself — although one was issued on May 7, 2023, that was away from the metropolitan area. “Well that was…..something,” the weather service’s Chicago office wrote on Twitter. The dust storm was beginning to ease at 7:40 p.m. local time, the weather service said. Visibility ranges were still decreased but were beginning to improve.