Witness the moment a dust storm engulfed Chicago; “It’s like something from the history books”
The Day the Dust Came
It was a day like any other, the kind where the skyline stands bold against the horizon – until it didn’t. In a flash, the familiar view vanished. A time-lapse video captured how swiftly the wall of dust swept across Chicago. A scene you’d expect to find in an old film reel or dusty pages of a history book, not here, not now.
As the dust rolled over Interstate 55, drivers faced a decision. Some pulled over, heeding the dust storm alerts pinging on their phones, opting for caution. Others pressed on, perhaps feeling a mix of curiosity and disbelief at the rare spectacle before them. I remember texting a friend who often takes that route, just hoping they were playing it safe.
Jean-Mastej, caught in this surreal moment, pulled off too. But rather than sitting tight, he grabbed his phone and hit record. It’s funny how people react – some document history even as it’s happening right in front of them. In far southwest suburban Morris, a high school graduation ceremony came to an unexpected pause as the dust engulfed them.
The visibility dropped to nothing almost instantly. I can only imagine the feel of debris whipping through the air. It must’ve felt like stepping into another world for those standing outside. Nichin put it perfectly: “It’s like something out of the history books, you know? Unbelievable.”
Unexpected Occurrence
Dust storms are typically a phenomenon more common in rural central and southern Illinois. The city? Not so much. Jean-Mastej echoed this sentiment: “You don’t think that you would see this in the city.” And yet, there it was – undeniable and all-consuming.
The storm wasn’t meant to last, though. Within 30 to 45 minutes, most areas began to see skies clearing up. Like a passing thought or a fleeting dream, it was there and then… gone. Kind of makes you ponder on the unpredictability of things and how swiftly they can shift from routine to extraordinary.
If you’re curious about how events like this can affect regions unaccustomed to such weather patterns, NPR provides some fascinating insights into unexpected weather events that have taken place across various parts of the world.
So next time you’re gazing out at that skyline or cruising down I-55, maybe you’ll pause for just a moment longer. You never know when something as wild as a dust storm might decide to pay an unexpected visit.
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