Hazy skies product of big dust storm

Haze obscures the view of Jobs Peak on Friday morning. Forecast thunderstorms may clear it out by 11 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.

By Kurt Hildebrand

Friday, August 4, 2023

Haziness in Carson Valley prompted several calls to Douglas County Dispatch from Indian Hills residents on Friday asking where’s the fire.

According to Airnow.gov, the Valley isn’t in any major smoke corridors.

However, there was a big dust storm on Thursday night that prompted an advisory from the National Weather Service.

The dust storm was moving south at 20 mph around 7:23 p.m. Thursday reducing visibility to below two miles.

By 8:25 p.m. the storm had moved through Fallon with a visibility of 1-3 miles and was westbound toward Silver Springs.

National Weather Service Meteorologist Dawn Johnson confirmed that at least 70 percent of the haze is dust, while the other 30 percent could be either dust or smoke, but is too small to distinguish.

There is some smoke aloft, she said, but most of the haziness near the ground is dust.

"Our phones have been ringing all day with people asking what's going on," she said.

There is a chance that west winds will clear out the haze this afternoon and evening. There is a chance for isolated thunderstorms 2-8 p.m. today.

The closest fire to Carson Valley is the 840-acre Pika fire burning in Yosemite National Park. The fire is 80 percent contained and is being managed by the Park Service.

It has been 42 days since Minden last reported any measurable precipitation, which occurred June 22.

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