Chicago residents awoke to a gritty surprise Wednesday morning: a layer of dust coating cars and outdoor surfaces. The unusual phenomenon, as explained by ABC7 Chicago meteorologist Larry Mowry, is linked to wildfires burning hundreds of miles away in Oklahoma, and Kansas.
Gusty southwest winds carried smoke, ash, and dust from the large-scale fires across the Plains states, lofting particulate matter high into the atmosphere. This airborne debris then became embedded within raindrops during overnight showers, resulting in what some are calling “dirty rain.”
“The dust on the cars is partially because of what’s going on to the south and west,” Mowry said.
The Ranger Road Fire, now considered a “megafire,” is currently burning an area roughly the size of Chicago itself, encompassing at least 145,000 acres in Oklahoma and Kansas. The fire began Tuesday afternoon and rapidly expanded due to bone-dry conditions and strong winds. Another wildfire near Woodward, Oklahoma, prompted evacuations for several thousand residents before orders were largely lifted late Tuesday.
Residents noticed the unusual rain immediately. Alberto Aguiñaga described his confusion Tuesday night, stating, “Why they not getting clean with my windshield fluid, you know? That’s what really got in my mind. What’s going on?”
The impact was felt across the city, with car washes experiencing a surge in business. Jaelen Jenkins recounted, “I knew it was going to be an issue when I woke up this morning and I seen my car. Cause my car, I literally washed it yesterday. And when I got outside, it literally threw a bucket of dirt on it.” Jenkins reported that his car wash had a line stretching down 95th Street, serving 221 cars between 7 a.m. And 9 a.m.
Jimmy Horne simply stated, “It was awful. I don’t know what was up with the weather, never seen dirty rain like that before.”
Fortunately for car owners, the forecast doesn’t predict any further rain on Wednesday, meaning recent car washes should remain clean for the time being.
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt has declared a disaster emergency for Beaver, Texas, and Woodward counties, activating state emergency management resources. The governor also requested air support from Texas, but high winds prevented aerial firefighting operations.
The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for the entire Chicago area due to similar conditions – low humidity and strong winds – which increase the risk of fire.
