Did you notice dirt on your car this morning in Indiana? Blame Kansas and Nebraska.
On February 18, a rare phenomenon combined with a light rain left a thin layer of dust on many vehicles.
Casey Crosby, a National Weather Service meteorologist based in Indianapolis, explained that on February 17, storms in the Great Plains states of Kansas and Nebraska kicked up dirt and dust and sent it into the atmosphere.
Crosby said these storms in the Plains are typical of the windy weather this time of year. The winds were so strong that they kept the dirt aloft and pushed it hundreds of miles eastward. Crosby estimated the dust was about 5,000-10,000 feet high when it reached Indiana last night into the early morning hours.
A drizzle passed through the dust layer and fell to the ground. The rain was too light to wash away the dirt from the vehicle.
“It takes the right circumstances [for the dirt to stick],” Crosby said. “A strong storm and a series of thunderstorms will wash it away. “
Rainfall records show conditions suitable for dirty rain in areas north of Interstate 70 in Indiana. Social media posts depicting dirty vehicles came from as far north as Chicago.
Crosby, who has been a meteorologist in Indianapolis for about 15 years, said he has only seen this happen a few times.
Indianapolis Current Weather Radar
Karl Schneider is IndyStar’s environmental reporter. You can contact him at karl.schneider@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @karlstartswithk or BlueSky @karlstartswithk.bsky.social
IndyStar’s environmental reporting program is made possible with the generous support of the nonprofit Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust.
This article originally appeared in the Indianapolis Star: Indiana rain makes cars dirty. blame kansas and nebraska