Dust storm on the West Texas South Plains

An unusually intense dust storm affected the South Plains of west Texas during the afternoon hours of June 22, 2006. A five county area southwest of Lubbock experienced hazardous blowing dust conditions that contributed to twelve chain-collision automobile accidents and destroyed vast cotton crops. An elderly man was killed in a multi-vehicle collision, numerous motorists were injured, and total property losses were estimated to exceed $2.1 million dollars.

The dust storm was a classic example of the haboob phenomenon, commonly observed in the deserts of Africa, and less frequent in the arid regions of the southwestern U.S. The South Plains haboob was associated with outflow from a complex of severe thunderstorms, and was characterized by a visually dramatic and densely whirling wall of dust as it progressed southwestward up to seventy miles from its source region. Wind speeds that accompanied the dust storm were generally sustained in the 30 mph range, with a few gusts over 50 mph.

Visibilities were reduced to near zero along U.S. Highway 62/82 as the dust storm enveloped a portion of that route from Lubbock to Brownfield between 15:00 and 16:00 CST. Twelve separate vehicle accidents were attributed to low visibilities in blowing dust over a ten mile stretch, and involved at least twenty-seven vehicles including motorcycles and several large trucks. A 71 year old gentleman was killed when his vehicle slammed into the back of a jack-knifed tractor-trailer at highway speeds. Another fifteen motorists were injured in the life-threatening travel conditions.

The impacts of the west Texas South Plains dust storm was additionally felt in the region's agricultural market. Local and state officials report at least 10,000 acres of cotton were "burned" during the event, equating to a loss of over $1.5 million. Experts say the wind-driven dust stripped leaves from the young cotton plants which were already struggling to emerge due to drought-related stress.

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