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The large dust storm that struck central Illinois on May 1 was a rare event for its widespread nature and destructive results.
But such storms are not unheard of in the Prairie State, which is comprised of about 57,913 square miles, according to nationsonline.org.
“Dust storms are more common in the Plains and southwest U.S.,” the National Weather Service (NWS) Lincoln office noted in a special report. “They do not happen often in Illinois, but are most common around early May and June.”
Spring is typically the peak time for severe weather in the state and also the time when farm fields and other land are more exposed to wind events before crops and other vegetation emerge.
NWS reported wind speeds between 35 and 45 mph with a peak gust of 54 mph at the Springfield Abraham Lincoln Airport on May 1 that generated the dust clouds. At those rates, the wind reached speeds comparable to a tropical storm. The NWS April climate summary also showed most of central and southeast Illinois received just 1 to 2.5 inches of precipitation in April, about 1-3 inches below average.
Satellite imagery subsequently indicated a large plume of dust across Sangamon, Montgomery, Christian, Shelby, and Effingham counties on May 1. It reduced visibility to near zero in some areas and resulted in a 72-vehicle pileup on Interstate 55 near Divernon and Farmersville. The massive accident resulted in 37 people being transported to local hospitals and seven fatalities, according to the Illinois State Police.
The deadly portion of I-55 was closed on May 1 and reopened on May 2, but closed again as a precaution for several hours the afternoon of May 2 because of high winds and low visibility.
Here is a look at other notable dust storms in Illinois during the past 40 years, according to the NWS report:
This story was distributed through a cooperative project between the Illinois Farm Bureau and the Illinois Press Association. For more food and farming news, visit FarmWeekNow.com.
Dan grew up on a family farm near Roseville, Warren County. He received a degree in journalism from Western Illinois University. He has been working as a journalist since 1991 and has been at FarmWeek since 2005. One way Dan discovers what is important to an Illinois farmer is by simply talking to them at events. He also keeps track of what’s trending on social media. Dan likes to let farmers tell their story and put a face to agriculture when he isn’t covering the markets.
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Written by: Daniel Grant, FarmWeek
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