Dangerous Dust and Wildfires
As a front moved through the Plains, it sucked up dust into the sky. That limited visibility, leading large portions of I-70 to be shut down to protect motorists. It wasn’t just dust limiting visibility, though. Smoke from wildfires also clouded the sky. Flames spread across the prairie in Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas.
The smoke is so plentiful that the NWS Chicago office told residents not to be alarmed if they smelled any. It’s not that the city was on fire, just smoke wafted from 600 miles (965 kilometers) away. Nothing to worry about! Just normal December things!
