haboob impacts chicago, il
16 may 2025

on the afternoon of 16 may 2025, an exceptionally rare and fast-moving dust storm, known as a haboob, developed across central illinois and surged northeast into the chicago metro area. the event began near bloomington and champaign, where strong outflow winds from a cluster of severe thunderstorms lifted dust from dry farmland into the air. this rapidly growing plume raced toward chicago, carried by winds gusting over 60 mph.

visibility plunged to near zero in the hardest-hit areas—including within the city—prompting the national weather service to issue four dust storm warnings, the first ever for chicago.

dust storms are unusual in the midwest, and especially rare in chicago. the magnitude of the 2025 event hadn’t been seen in the region since the dust bowl era. the closest historical comparison appears to be the dust storm of 10 may 1934.

this unusually intense dust storm occurred on the same day as a widespread severe weather outbreak that produced multiple strong and deadly tornadoes across the central and eastern u.s.

📍photos taken from rogers park in chicago, il