Weather
Central Washington Weather Alert: Blowing Dust Threatens Drivers Oct 11
MOSES LAKE, WA – Drivers across portions of central and eastern Washington are being warned to prepare for potentially dangerous travel conditions Sunday, Oct. 11, as strong winds threaten to kick up
By Grant Holloway · 2026-10-11T00:43:34.015Z
MOSES LAKE, WA – Drivers across portions of central and eastern Washington are being warned to prepare for potentially dangerous travel conditions Sunday, Oct. 11, as strong winds threaten to kick up blowing dust capable of sharply reducing visibility, sometimes with little warning.
According to the National Weather Service in Spokane, a Blowing Dust Advisory is in effect from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. PDT Sunday for the Moses Lake area and Upper Columbia Basin, where northeast winds of 15 to 25 mph could produce gusts reaching 35 mph.
Forecasters expect patchy to localized blowing dust, with visibility dropping to between one quarter mile and one mile at times. However, officials warn that sudden reductions to near zero visibility are possible, creating particularly hazardous conditions for motorists.
Communities Under the Advisory The advisory includes several communities across Grant, Adams, Lincoln and surrounding portions of the Columbia Basin region.
Affected locations include Moses Lake, Ephrata, Othello, Quincy, Odessa, Ritzville, Harrington, Wilbur, Coulee City, Creston and Grand Coulee.
Drivers traveling through exposed agricultural areas and open stretches of roadway should remain especially alert as gusty winds lift loose soil and dust into the air.
What Drivers Should Do The National Weather Service urges motorists to take immediate precautions if blowing dust approaches or visibility suddenly deteriorates.
Drivers encountering dense dust should pull completely off the roadway as far as possible, place their vehicle in park, turn off all lights and remove their foot from the brake pedal.
This helps prevent approaching drivers from mistakenly following vehicle lights into stopped traffic.
The agency emphasizes its safety message: "Pull Aside, Stay Alive."
Conditions may change rapidly throughout Sunday's advisory period. Motorists should monitor updated forecasts and road conditions before traveling across the affected region.