HAMPTON ROADS, Va. (WAVY) – Did you wake up Saturday morning to a dusty car and wonder where it all came from?
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), the Southwest (northern Chihuahua, MX/southern NM/far west TX) has been experiencing dust storms this week due to strong winds from various weather systems moving through.
They said the dust from Thursday afternoon ended up in a low-pressure system that moved across the Plains and off to the east yesterday. The dust, wrapped up in a storm system, made it to the ground as rain fell in WV and VA Friday night.
So, all the dust that appeared on cars overnight is actually dust that came all the way from the Desert Southwest.
The NWS said this has happened numerous times in the past when a strong system created thick blowing dust and then strengthened as it moved east or northeast. It has created “brown snow” across Colorado and the Great Lakes region before.