Dust storm warning marks a first for Chicago. So what caused it? – NBC 5 Chicago

Dust storm warning marks a first for Chicago. So what caused it?  NBC 5 Chicago

A large dust storm swept through the Chicago area Friday, coming on the heels of a night of severe thunderstorms Thursday that left over 100,000 people without… You’re watching the NBC 5 Chicago News streaming channel, which plays local Chicago news 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can find the “NBC 5 Chicago News” streaming channel on your phone or computer, and on Peacock, Samsung, Roku, Xumo or on our app, so you can watch our local news on your schedule. A large dust storm swept through the Chicago area Friday, coming on the heels of a night of severe thunderstorms Thursday that left over 100,000 people without power.

Temperatures remained very warm on Friday, with gusty winds impacting the region throughout the day amid a threat of severe thunderstorms and fire-conducive conditions. The strong winds throughout the day, with localized gusts reaching 50 to 60 miles per hour, contributed to the issuing of a Red Flag Warning, particularly impacting regions that weren't hit by rainfall on Thursday. While large-scale brush fires never materialized Friday, the dry conditions in areas not impacted by Thursday's rainfall combined with the dangerous region-wide winds to create a blowing dust threat. Though dust storms have impacted Illinois expressways before, Friday's event marked a moment of history for the city of Chicago.