Colorado Dust Storm
Yesterday, 17 April 2018, there was a large dust storm that occurred in the state of Colorado. The dust storm initiated due to dry and and very windy conditions, originating from the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, near Alamosa, Colorado. Throughout the afternoon, visibility was quite low, in portions of the state.
Check out the surface observations (via RAP Real-Time Weather), between 16-22Z, 17 April 2018. Over time, notice the dollar sign and infinity weather symbols, depicting dust and haze in central and eastern Colorado.
The dust storm was also seen via satellite by the Suomi-National Polar-orbiting Partnership (S-NPP) at 1843Z and 2026Z, 17 April 2018. Below are two satellite products observing the atmospheric phenomena.
VIIRS True Color Product (via RAMSDIS Online) from S-NPP.
Notice the ‘light, milky brown’ feature, emanate from south-central Colorado, where the Great American Sand Dunes reside. The feature elongates all the way to the Colorado/Kansas border, at the time of the overpasses.
VIIRS Blue Light Dust Enhancement Product (via RAMSDIS Online) from S-NPP.
See the bright pink feature, implying the areal extent of dust, advected eastward, seen from the two S-NPP overpasses.
For interested viewers, refer to the following social media link to check out a video of the dust event.