Context:

A rare dust storm swept across northwest Indiana and north-central Illinois, turning day into night and severely reducing visibility, especially in Chicago. The storm, driven by strong winds from thunderstorms, originated near Bloomington, Illinois, and traveled at speeds of up to 60 miles per hour, creating hazardous conditions on major highways like Interstates 55 and 57. This event prompted the first-ever dust storm warning for Chicago by the National Weather Service's Romeoville office, highlighting the unusual nature of the storm in this region. Soil moisture levels in the area were critically low, exacerbating the storm's intensity and allowing dust to be easily lifted and transported by the winds. The phenomenon, known as a haboob, was compared to those typically seen in desert areas, and its dramatic arrival in downtown Chicago was likened to a fog, albeit less dense but equally disorienting.

Dive Deeper:

• The dust storm on Friday dramatically reduced visibility in north-central Illinois and northwest Indiana, making conditions dangerous on highways, including Interstates 55 and 57, where near-zero visibility was reported.

• This was the first time the Weather Service's Romeoville office issued a dust storm warning for Chicago, a city not typically affected by such storms, indicating the event's rarity and severity.

• Driven by winds up to 70 miles per hour from thunderstorms, the storm lifted dust from dry farmland, traveling at about 60 miles per hour and reaching downtown Chicago by 6:30 p.m.

• Central Illinois experienced exceptionally dry soil conditions, with moisture levels at only 2 to 5 percent, facilitating the storm's development as dust was easily picked up by the strong winds.

• The term 'haboob' was used to describe the storm, a term commonly associated with dust storms in desert regions, highlighting the storm's intensity and the wall of dust it created.

• Historically, significant dust storms in Chicago are rare, with notable occurrences during the Dust Bowl era in the 1930s, making this event particularly unusual and noteworthy.

• Local residents, such as Dan Belko, noticed atmospheric changes as the storm approached, likening it to a fog, which underscored the dramatic and disorienting nature of the dust storm.