Listen at 90.3 FM and 98.3 FM in the Quad Cities, 95.9 FM in Dubuque, or on the WVIK app!

Donate

Play Live Radio

Next Up:

0:00

0:00 0:00

Available On Air Stations

Environment

For Once, You Can Blame the Weather for Your Dirty Car

WVIK, Quad Cities NPR | By Michelle O'Neill

Published April 12, 2019 at 4:39 PM CDT

Screenshot from a gif posted on Twitter showing where winds picked up dust in New Mexico, Texas & Mexico.

If you thought your car was dirtier after it rained Thursday, you're right.

People in the Midwest found dirt of a different color (tan or sort of orange) on their cars after rainfall on Thursday.

Michelle O'Neill talked with a scientist to find out why.

A National Weather Service satellite shows strong winds blew dust from the Southwest and Mexico into the jet stream. Then it traveled over the Midwest, and the dirt fell along with the rain.

Meteorologist Alex Gibbs, from the Davenport office, says it's a unique occurance. The dust even turned up in the snow that fell in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Gibbs says it reminds him of the Dust Bowl in the 1920's, when dust from out west traveled as far as the east coast.

Tags

Michelle O'Neill

Officially, Michelle's title for 28 years was WVIK News Editor. She did everything there is to do in the newsroom and whatever was needed around the radio station. She also served as Acting News Director from September 2023 - January 2024.

See stories by Michelle O'Neill