Dust storm prompts I-90 closure

RITZVILLE – Part of Interstate 90 was closed for much of Sunday, due to high winds and blowing dust. The closure began at 3:30 p.m. and lasted until the late evening, with the Department of Transportation announcing I-90 reopening between milepost 182 east of Moses Lake and milepost 222 in Ritzville around 9:30 p.m. in both directions.

The Department of Transportation reported near-zero visibility due to high winds and flying dust.

Hakobyan Harut-Hakobovich of Brooklyn, New York, was on his way from New Jersey to Kent, Washington, with a load of electric car batteries when he had to pull in to the parking lot of Jake's Cafe late Sunday afternoon to stop for the night.

"The winds are really bad," Harut-Hakobovich said, adding the last time he was delayed and had to make an unplanned stop at Jake's Cafe was about a month ago. "It was a snowstorm, and it was really bad, too," Harut-Hakobovich said, adding, "I will try and leave in the morning."

Adams County Sheriff's office put out a warning stating "The wind is here causing issues as predicted." They warned many roads have zero visibility due to heavy blowing dust.

"If you do not have to go anywhere, please don't," a Sheriff's office spokesperson said. "It's very dangerous."

An emergency alert classified as severe was issued by the National Weather Service, warning drivers to be prepared for a sudden drop to zero visibility. Drivers caught in the dust storm were advised to "Pull aside, stay alive."

"When visibility drops, pull far off the road and put your vehicle in park," the warning advised. "Turn the lights off and keep your foot off the brake."

Urged to take special precautions were the elderly, infants and anyone with respiratory issues.