Chicago Weather: A Dusty Surprise from Oklahoma Wildfires
Chicago residents woke up to a rather unusual sight on Wednesday: cars completely covered in a layer of dust. But what caused this unexpected coating? The answer lies hundreds of miles to the south and west, with the devastating wildfires raging across parts of Oklahoma.
The Journey of Dust and Smoke
According to ABC7 Chicago meteorologist Larry Mowry, gusty southwest winds carried dust, smoke, and ash from the Oklahoma wildfires directly into the Chicago area. This particulate matter, lofted high into the atmosphere, played a crucial role in the formation of raindrops. Raindrops need something to condense on – water vapor clings to particles like dust, smoke, dirt, or anything small. Tuesday night’s rain, combined with the influx of smoke and dust from Oklahoma, resulted in a significantly dirtier rainfall than usual.
Alberto Aguiñaga, a Chicago resident, noticed the unusual rain immediately. “Why weren’t they getting clean with my windshield fluid? That’s what really got in my mind. What’s going on?” he wondered.
Fire Weather Concerns and a Car Wash Boom
As of Wednesday afternoon, drier air and continued gusty southwest winds have increased fire weather concerns. The unusual weather conditions have also led to a significant increase in business for car washes across the city.
“I knew it was going to be an issue when I woke up this morning and saw my car. I literally washed it yesterday, and when I got outside, it literally threw a bucket of dirt on it,” said Jaelen Jenkins, a car wash employee. The demand was so high that Jenkins’ car wash served 221 cars between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. alone.
Oklahoma Wildfires: A State of Emergency
The source of the dust impacting Chicago is the massive Ranger Road Fire in Oklahoma, now classified as a megafire. It has already burned over 145,000 acres across Oklahoma and Kansas – an area roughly the size of Chicago itself. Another wildfire in Woodward, Oklahoma, prompted the evacuation of several thousand residents, though most evacuation orders have since been lifted.
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt declared a disaster emergency for Beaver, Texas, and Woodward counties, activating state emergency management resources. He also requested air support from Texas, but high winds prevented aerial firefighting efforts.
You can find more information about the Oklahoma wildfires from these sources:
Fortunately for Chicago vehicle owners, the forecast doesn’t predict any more rain, meaning those freshly washed cars should stay clean – at least for now.
Source: The CNN-Wire contributed to this report.
