SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Nearly a year after the fatal pile up on Interstate 55 near Divernon, Illinois State Police closed I-72 several times in one day due to dust blowing across the road.  

Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell says if situations like this keep happening, first responders will need to create plans for how to address the low visibility situations. 

"It looks like this is becoming a pattern due to changing weather and the winds this spring have been high and more sustained then normal," said Campbell. "It may be something we have to consider and start planning for during the planting season early in the year like this." 

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Meteorologists at the National Weather Service in Lincoln say they try to be as proactive as possible in informing the public about dangerous travel situations. However, dust storms form quickly, and they aren't able to track every situation that could cause dust to start blowing. 

"It was a hard event to anticipate because we had overperforming winds but it's hard to know how dry that top layer of soil is and whether farmers will be out plowing," said John Bumgardner, Meteorologist for NWS Central Illinois. "If we issued a dust advisory every time we think that conditions could be favorable, we'd have a lot of dust advisories that don't materialize." 

I-72 Dust storm

A dust storm developing on Interstate 72 near New Berlin, Ill. on April 16, 2024.

The Illinois State Police say because of the impacts of the dust storm last year, they are being more proactive with shutting down roads in bad driving conditions. They also are trying to communicate quickly and efficiently with any drivers in the impacted area. This includes warning drivers via social media and local news of any developing situations. 

"These low visibility situations can pop up out of no where," said Trooper Melissa Albert-Lopez with ISP. "We know when a blizzard is coming and we can prepare and tell people to stay at home. But thick fog and dust storms, we can't always predict those." 

Trooper Albert-Lopez and Sheriff Campbell agreed that the best thing to do if you see a dust storm forming is to avoid it. If you can't, slow down, turn on your hazard lights, and pull off of the road. Don't change lanes and leave enough space between you and other vehicles. 

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