As North Texans have been luxuriating in spring temperatures and sunshine, they’ve also experienced sustained high winds that have brought a lot of dust.
On multiple occasions this month, the National Weather Service’s Fort Worth office has alerted metro area residents of strong blowing dust, sometimes impacting visibility. It was forecast to make an appearance again on Wednesday, with winds ranging from 25 to 35 miles per hour.
Here’s what to know about the dust:
What is causing the dust in North Texas?
Strong west winds have affected most of the state in recent weeks, picking up dust in New Mexico and West Texas, Sarah Barnes, a meteorologist with the weather service said.
The dust has traveled from west to east, with some landing in Dallas-Fort Worth. Barnes noted the metro area has not seen the recurring reduction in visibility other parts of the state have experienced, such as in the Texas Panhandle.
ICYMI: A Wind Advisory is in effect through 9 PM. Sustained winds will range between 20-30 mph, with higher gusts between 35-45 mph. Additionally, these winds have brought in more dust from West Texas making the skies appear hazy this morning. #dfwwx #ctxwx pic.twitter.com/tckowRjp7v
— NWS Fort Worth (@NWSFortWorth) March 19, 2025
What makes dust dangerous when driving?
The biggest threat from dust is reduced visibility. It can be difficult for drivers to estimate how thick the dust will be until they’re in it and their visibility is reduced, sometimes down to zero. In that situation, drivers often slow down substantially and then get hit by other cars.
But visibility isn’t the only threat. The high winds can coat the roads with fine dust particles, making it harder to brake.
Is the dust normal for North Texas?
Not really. Barnes said a day of hazy skies here or there isn’t abnormal for the region, but the continued pattern of substantial dust is irregular. It was not immediately clear how long it would continue.
Does the dust have anything to do with the lack of rain?
North Texas has been short on rain recently. There’s been no measured rainfall in the last week, and almost none predicted for the week to come.
But the two trends are separate. Since the dust is getting picked up and brought over from other areas, the lack of moisture in the ground here isn’t directly contributing.
When will it rain again?
It’s hard to say.
While March isn’t over, North Texas is only halfway to its March precipitation average of 1.93 inches and almost no rainfall is predicted for the next week.
Barnes said there’s been a lack of moisture coming up from the Gulf of Mexico, which has limited precipitation when the cold fronts move through.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
