US EditionDrivers Urged to Stay Off Roads in Illinois Amid Dust Storms
- A massive dust storm moved rapidly northward through northern Illinois toward Chicago on the evening of Friday, May 16, 2025, threatening motorists and residents with reduced visibility.
- The storm originated from thunderstorms lifting dust off central Illinois farms earlier that day, with meteorologist Zachary Yack noting that its exact path was unclear.
- The National Weather Service issued dust storm warnings until 8:30 p.m. Across several counties including Cook, Kane, and DuPage, while flight operations at O'Hare and Midway airports were temporarily halted.
- Yack urged drivers to pull as far off the road as possible with hazards on and remain parked if visibility suddenly dropped near zero, while winds gusted over 60 mph during the storm’s 30-minute passage.
- Illinois officials warned against travel due to life-threatening conditions, respiratory health risks, and multiple highway closures following accidents caused by near-zero visibility.
13 Articles
13 Articles
Rare dust storm blankets Chicago
The Chicago skyline disappeared momentarily as a wall of dust blew through the city. The National Weather Service attributed this to 60 to 70 mph winds that blew over dry farmlands, collecting dust and blowing it through the Chicago area, according to CNN affiliate WBBM.
Compelling images, video: Rare dust storm blankets Chicagoland
CHICAGO (WGN) — Friday's sunny afternoon turned dark as the sun was temporarily blocked out by a rare dust storm that blanketed Chicagoland. A combination of low relative humidity, very dry conditions and strong winds exceeding 50 mph created a wall of dust which lowered visibility to less than a half of mile. Video from the WGN Weather Bug Camera Network shows a wall of dust passing through Kankakee The dust storm in New Lenox, Illinois. (…
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