Blowing Dust and High Wind Warnings Issued for Portions of Colorado and Kansas

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Goodland, KS, has issued a Blowing Dust Warning and a High Wind Warning. These alerts indicate widespread blowing dust, potential brownout conditions, and dangerously high wind speeds across the region.

Affected Areas

The warnings cover portions of east central and northeast Colorado, as well as northwest and west central Kansas. Specific counties include:

• Colorado: Yuma, Kit Carson, and Cheyenne.
• Kansas: Sherman, Thomas, Sheridan, Graham, Wallace, Logan, Gove, Greeley, and Wichita.

What You Should Do

Residents are encouraged to stay indoors to avoid poor air quality. If you must be outside, wear a protective breathing mask. High dust concentrations can aggravate respiratory and heart-related problems, especially in children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing conditions.

For motorists: If you encounter blowing dust or a sudden drop in visibility, follow the “Pull Aside, Stay Alive” protocol:

• Pull off the road as far as possible.
• Put the vehicle in park.
• Turn all lights off.
• Keep your foot off the brake pedal.

Additionally, residents should fasten or shelter loose objects, stay in the lower levels of their homes, and avoid windows to protect against falling debris and tree limbs.

Expected Conditions

The region is experiencing north winds between 35 to 45 mph, with gusts reaching up to 65 mph. These winds are generating widespread blowing dust and local brownout conditions, leading to severely limited and rapidly changing visibilities. High winds may also cause property damage and power outages. Travel will be difficult, particularly for high-profile vehicles.

Timeline

• Blowing Dust Warning: Effective until 2:00 PM MDT (3:00 PM CDT) this afternoon.
• High Wind Warning: Effective until 8:00 PM MDT (9:00 PM CDT) this evening.