An extreme dust storm driven by strong winds struck parts of California’s Central Valley on Monday, dropping visibility to near zero, sending highway traffic to a screeching halt and knocking out power to thousands of homes.
A dust storm moved through the Central Valley on Monday afternoon, dropping visibility to near zero amid 50 mph wind gusts. These images were captured roughly 45 seconds apart from a Caltrans webcam in Tulare along westbound Hwy. 198.
CaltransThe event, which sent winds gusting as high as 52 mph in the valley, prompted the National Weather Service to issue a rare dust storm warning for Fresno, Kings, Tulare and Kern counties.
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ACT NOWWith little to no rain so far this fall across the San Joaquin Valley, the strong wind shift kicked up dirt from nearby fields and pushed it across the valley in an apocalyptic-like scene captured in videos from remote webcams throughout the region.
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Dust storm moves through San Joaquin Valley
As of midafternoon Monday, nearly 15,000 customers in Fresno County remained without power, according to PG&E’s website.
The warning by the weather service’s Hanford office was later downgraded to an advisory as the intense dust storm, known as a haboob, moved south.
The dust storm advisory was in effect until 4 p.m. in the following cities: Tulare, Porterville, Delano, Earlimart, Poplar-Cotton Center, Woodville, East Porterville, Strathmore, Tipton, Pixley, Alpaugh and Allensworth State Park.
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Haboob moves into southern Sierra Nevada foothills
Rain quickly followed the haboob, the first widespread wetting precipitation in the San Joaquin Valley since early May.
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Amid the extreme conditions, more than 10 vehicles were involved in a crash on westbound Highway 152 in Madera County, the California Highway Patrol reported. The crash resulted in minor injuries and forced the temporary closure of the highway, the CHP said.
The most recent dust storm warning issued by the weather service office in Hanford was in 2014.
Reach Anthony Edwards: Anthony.Edwards@sfchronicle.com