In Topeka, Kansas, a sudden dust storm recently reduced visibility dramatically, creating perilous conditions for drivers on the road. This abrupt change led to a massive pileup on Interstate 70 in western Kansas, involving numerous cars and trucks, tragically resulting in the deaths of eight individuals. Similarly, blinding dust in New Mexico forced the transportation department to close a portion of Interstate 25 stretching southwest from the Colorado border to Las Vegas, New Mexico.
The dust-laden skies have evoked memories of the “Dust Bowl” era of the 1930s, a time when immense clouds of dirt and soil engulfed the Great Plains, devastating farms and towns. While less severe dust storms happen annually, especially in the western United States during the spring planting season, many experts express concern that the general public underestimates their danger. Daniel Tong, an atmospheric chemistry expert from George Mason University, emphasized a need for increased public awareness regarding dust storms and their potential hazard to life and safety.
Historical records show that dust storms have resulted in fatalities. The High Plains Museum in Goodland displays an image from the 1930s illustrating a tractor engulfed by soil, a stark reminder of the severe consequences during that period. According to meteorologist Jeremy Martin, the recent deaths in Goodland were the first caused by a dust storm there since 2014. However, dust-related accidents are not uncommon; less than a month ago, a dust storm-induced 11-car crash left three people dead on I-25. Similarly, in 2023, a massive pileup involving many vehicles occurred on I-55 between St. Louis and Springfield, Illinois, also due to dust storm conditions.
In an extreme incident in 1991, 17 people perished in a dust storm-related collision on I-5 in California’s San Joaquin Valley. Research conducted by Tong and other experts, published in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, indicates that from 2007 to 2017, windblown dust events resulted in 232 deaths, a figure significantly higher than previous estimates. Additionally, reports suggest that the financial impact of wind erosion and dust is more than fourfold the previously assessed damage, incurring costs exceeding $154 billion annually.
A cold front carried the recent dust across western Kansas, as Martin explained. The region experienced six hours of warm, dry conditions before the front moved through, with winds reaching 70 miles per hour (113 kph), stirring up the dust which then became confined within the cold front. This phenomenon creates the infamous wall of dust, drastically reducing road visibility and causing drivers to slow down and sometimes collide. A preliminary probe reported that the incident involved 71 vehicles, including at least ten 18-wheelers, according to Kansas Highway Patrol spokesperson April McCollum.
Jeremy Martin from the National Weather Service noted the difficulty in keeping eyes open amidst such airborne dust, describing the sensation as painful and irritating to breathe. Similar weather patterns in eastern Colorado also prompted warnings to motorists about zero visibility conditions due to high winds and dirt. Jerry Burkhart, Lamar’s fire and emergency services chief, advised drivers to find safety away from the road under such circumstances.
Martin highlighted the challenges in gauging dust density from afar, which often results in drivers being caught unawares when visibility suddenly drops. Meteorologists suggest counter-intuitive measures in such storms, advising motorists to pull off the road safely, switch off lights, and avoid using high beams to prevent misleading other drivers about road conditions. Dust storms can reduce road traction and provoke panic among drivers. Consequently, Tong recommends states include dust storm safety in driver education and license exams to better prepare motorists.
