Dust Storm Season Begins in Eastern Washington and Oregon
Sometimes during late winter or early spring, the dust storm season begins east of the Cascade crest.
The rain has lessened, the sun has gotten stronger and the upper soil layers have begun to dry out. Some farmers have begun to plow their fields in preparation for planting.
And then a big wind event occurs, often associated with the passage of an unusually strong weather front, with powerful winds raising dust and soil from the surface, creating a cloud of dust.
All of this happened on Sunday, leading to a significant dust storm on I-82 between Kennewick, Washington and Hermiston, Oregon, with more dust around eastern Washington and southern Oregon.
Some dust storms are natural east of the Cascade crest, but the situation has been made far, far worse, by poor agricultural practices, including plowing fields and leaving them exposed to strong winds. Land disturbances, include heavy use of off-track vehicles, has contributed as well. No-till farming and restrictions on the use of natural areas could greatly aid in reducing dust storms.
Tragically, the dust storm represents the denuding of a thin veneer of rich, invaluable soils. An irreplaceable loss that will undermine eastern Washington agriculture if allowed to continue.
The rain has lessened, the sun has gotten stronger and the upper soil layers have begun to dry out. Some farmers have begun to plow their fields in preparation for planting.
And then a big wind event occurs, often associated with the passage of an unusually strong weather front, with powerful winds raising dust and soil from the surface, creating a cloud of dust.
All of this happened on Sunday, leading to a significant dust storm on I-82 between Kennewick, Washington and Hermiston, Oregon, with more dust around eastern Washington and southern Oregon.
Some dust storms are natural east of the Cascade crest, but the situation has been made far, far worse, by poor agricultural practices, including plowing fields and leaving them exposed to strong winds. Land disturbances, include heavy use of off-track vehicles, has contributed as well. No-till farming and restrictions on the use of natural areas could greatly aid in reducing dust storms.
Tragically, the dust storm represents the denuding of a thin veneer of rich, invaluable soils. An irreplaceable loss that will undermine eastern Washington agriculture if allowed to continue.
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