Strong winds have brought a lot of dust into North Texas.
DALLAS — If you’ve looked outside this Friday afternoon you might have noticed it’s looking murky….
Dust Storm Blowing Into North Texas: What You Need to Know
Dust from the West is making its way into North Texas, and it’s not just a nuisance for your windshield. These winds bring more than just dirt — they’re carrying fine particles that can impact air quality.
How It Happens
Friday’s strong westerly winds, fueled by a very deep area of low pressure in the central U.S., swept up dust from the deserts of West Texas, New Mexico, and the Texas Panhandle. These fine dust particles, smaller than a grain of sand, can travel for hundreds of miles before reaching cities like Dallas and Fort Worth. Once they arrive, the air quality takes a hit, and visibility can drop too.
What’s in the Air?
Besides the obvious dust, these storms also carry allergens like pollen from desert plants and mold spores. If you’re sensitive to seasonal allergies, this can make for a rough time. Sneezing, itchy eyes, and respiratory discomfort are common complaints during dust events, especially if you suffer from asthma or other respiratory conditions. Overall, none of this is dangerous. Just a huge nuisance.
What to do?
When the winds pick up, staying indoors is your best bet to avoid exposure. Keep windows closed and use air filters if you can. If you have a history of allergies or asthma, it’s a good idea to avoid time outside.
When does this get better?
The dust will diminish overnight! Winds are expected to drop off dramatically overnight and tomorrow morning. So, we’ll have to deal with this dust for the rest of the night, but the weekend looks totally fine.
