Dust Storm in Illinois

49 dust storm events since 2011

Every dust storm event the National Weather Service has filed in Illinois, year by year, with the most significant episodes. Blowing dust that reduced visibility to a quarter mile or less.

The most significant on the map

The most significant dust storm episodes in Illinois.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

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The record

Events: 49
Deaths: 8
Injuries: 50
Damage: $101,000

Every year

The most significant

Ranked by deaths, injuries, damage and size together.

Dust Storm in Illinois, May 1, 20238 deaths · 37 injured · 1 eventNorthwest winds gusting from 35-40 mph lofted dust from newly plowed farm fields resulting in near zero visibility across portions of northern Montgomery County, southern Sangamon County, and southwestern Christian County in Illinois.
Dust Storm in Illinois, May 21, 20246 injured · 4 eventsDeep-layer mixing within a dry pre-frontal airmass resulted in strong southerly winds gusting 40-50mph across central Illinois on May 21st.
Dust Storm in Illinois, May 1, 2023$100,000 · 1 eventA tight pressure gradient between a deep low centered over southeastern Ontario and a ridge axis over the Plains led to gusty northwesterly winds across central Illinois on May 1st.
Dust Storm in Illinois, May 16, 20254 injured · 8 eventsA nearly stationary frontal boundary draped along I-70 separated a warm, humid airmass to the south across the Ohio River Valley from a warm, but considerably drier airmass further north across much of central and northern Illinois on May 16th.
Dust Storm and High Wind in Illinois, April 3, 2011$19,000 · 54 kt wind · 19 eventsStrong southwest winds developed between low pressure approaching from the northwest and high pressure to the southeast. The winds gusted as high as 62 mph at the Carbondale airport, and around 50 mph at most other locations.
Dust Storm and Damaging Winds in Illinois, June 16, 20241 injured · 52 kt wind · 19 eventsA mesoscale convective vortex produced windy thunderstorms as it moved across northern Illinois during the afternoon of the 16th. These storms developed a gust front which managed to kick up dust and significantly reduce visibilities across parts of Kane County.
Dust Storm and Hail in Illinois, May 16, 20251 in hail · 27 eventsAn area of thunderstorms moved across east central Illinois during the afternoon of May 16th producing damaging convective wind gusts across southern Ford and southern Iroquois Counties.
Dust Storm and Strong Wind in Illinois, May 24, 20123 injured · $10,000 · 2 eventsA deepening area of low pressure pushed across the upper Mississippi Valley causing strong southerly winds across northern Illinois. Maximum wind gusts across the area generally ranged from 35 to near 50 mph, with at least two mesonet sites reporting gusts in excess of 50 mph.
Tornadoes and Flood in Illinois, May 7, 20231.75 in hail · 20 eventsOn the evening of May 7th, a line of thunderstorms produced severe winds, severe hail, heavy rain, and even two landspouts across parts of the southern and southwestern Chicago metro.
Dust Storm and High Wind in Illinois, March 28, 202552 kt wind · 8 eventsAn approaching surface low pressure system located over eastern South Dakota resulted in strong south-southwesterly wind gusts across central Illinois. Peak gusts were between 50-60 mph in many locations.
Dust Storm in Illinois, May 4, 20265 eventsA deep low pressure system was positioned north of the Great Lakes on May 4th, with a cold front extending southwestward into Iowa. Ahead of the front, sustained southwesterly gradient winds of 20-30mph with gusts as high as 40 to 45mph resulted in plumes of blowing dust.
Dust Storm in Illinois, June 6, 20242 eventsA cold front moved through Illinois on June 5th, and in its wake, breezy northwest winds gusted 30 to 35 mph during the afternoon of June 6th. This resulted in widespread reports of blowing dust reducing visibility across central and eastern Illinois.
Dust Storm in Illinois, April 16, 20241 eventA warm front lifted northward to the I-80 corridor during the afternoon of April 16th. Further south within the warm sector, southerly winds increased and gusted up to 40-45mph at times across much of central Illinois.
Dust Storm in Illinois, March 26, 20261 eventBreezy southwesterly winds led to unseasonably warm temperatures across central Illinois on March 26, 2026. As a cold front approached during the early evening, scattered strong to severe thunderstorms developed ahead of the front.

Dust Storm everywhere Every kind of event in Illinois

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24.