Blowing Dust Warning Issued for Cheyenne County, Kansas Through Tuesday Afternoon

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Goodland, Kansas, has issued a Blowing Dust Warning for the region. This alert indicates that widespread blowing dust is creating hazardous conditions, including significant “brown out” scenarios where visibility is severely restricted.

Affected Areas

The warning specifically covers Cheyenne County in Kansas. Residents and travelers within this geographic zone should prepare for rapidly deteriorating conditions and severely limited visibility.

What You Should Do

The National Weather Service advises the following safety measures for those in the affected area:

• Travel Safety: Be ready for a sudden drop in visibility to near zero. If you encounter blowing dust or sand on the roadway, pull off the road as far as possible and put your vehicle in park. Turn your lights all the way off and keep your foot off the brake pedal. Remember the safety motto: “Pull Aside, Stay Alive.”
• Health Precautions: High dust concentrations can cause respiratory problems, decrease lung activity, and aggravate asthma. It is encouraged that you stay indoors or wear protective breathing masks if you must be outside. This is especially important for children, the elderly, or those with pre-existing respiratory or heart-related conditions.
• Air Quality: Be prepared for a prolonged period of poor air quality due to the suspended dust.

Expected Conditions

Residents should expect widespread blowing dust and brown out conditions. Visibilities are expected to be severely limited, making travel dangerous and potentially life-threatening. The event is characterized by high dust concentrations that will impact both visibility and air quality.

Timeline

The Blowing Dust Warning is effective as of 10:05 AM MST on February 17. The alert is currently scheduled to expire at 5:00 PM MST (6:00 PM CST) this evening.