National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

A very "dirty rain" fell later Friday night and early Saturday and quickly became the talk of the town. Why did it occur? 

 

On Friday, a strong area of low pressure developed in Kansas and tracked north toward western Minnesota. Strong southwest winds across Texas and Oklahoma picked up soil and dust and transported it northeast and into the storm. Wildfire smoke added to the plume. The GOES view from space clearly shows the bright yellow dust plume wrapping into the storm Friday afternoon (March 14). All of this airborne dust and debris was then "rained out" of the atmosphere Friday night and early Saturday further north causing widespread "dirty rain" in the local area.