Dust Storm Hits Dallas and Austin, Causing Flight Cancellations and Poor Air Quality

Tuesday, a vast dust storm covered major cities in Texas. It made the sky dark during the day, making movement difficult with strong winds. The storm was caused by a significant weather system over the central U.S. It brought dust from the west, and by the afternoon, it was only possible to see two miles in Dallas. As thick clouds of dust and wind gusts of up to 60 mph moved through the metroplex, drivers had to turn on their headlights even though it was daylight.

It was dangerous during rush hour because the dust had spread to Austin and San Antonio by evening. Over 500 flights had to be canceled because of the high winds and poor visibility at the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and the Austin Bergstrom International Airport. San Antonio's air quality reached a "unhealthy" level, with an AQI of 110. Being outside could be dangerous, especially for people with breathing problems.

Meteorologists said the dust could keep moving east and reach Houston by late Tuesday night. As people in Texas prepare for poor air quality, officials say they should stay inside and use air filters to lessen the effects of the dust storm.

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