PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
732 AM CDT FRI OCT 19 2012

...DUST STORM FROM THE PLAINS IS FILLING OUR SKY THIS MORNING...

A HIGH WIND STORM THAT OCCURRED ACROSS THE CENTRAL PLAINS OF 
NEBRASKA...KANSAS AND OKLAHOMA ON THURSDAY PRODUCED A LARGE DUST
PLUME WHICH IS NOW WORKING ITS WAY THROUGH THE TENNESSEE VALLEY. THE
DUST IS CURRENTLY PRODUCING A SLIGHT OPAQUENESS TO AN OTHERWISE CLEAR
SKY. THE RISING SUN WAS ALSO BEING DIMMED A BIT AND LOCAL AIR QUALITY
MAY ALSO BE DIMINISHED.

SATELLITE IMAGERY AND LOCAL UA-HUNTSVILLE AND HUNTSVILLE AIRPORT 
OBSERVATION CEILOMETER DATA ARE TRACKING THIS DUST PLUME. ACCORDING
TO THE CEILOMETER DATA...THE PLUME BEGAN TO ARRIVE AROUND 1 AM AND
PROGRESSIVELY BECAME THICKER DURING THE EARLY MORNING HOURS.

GUSTY SOUTHWEST WIND FLOW TODAY WILL TEND TO MIX THIS DUST PLUME UP A
BIT...AND INITIALLY MAY CAUSE ALLERGY SUFFERERS AND THOSE SENSITIVE
TO POOR AIR QUALITY TO HAVE SOME DIFFICULTY. VISIBILITY IS NOT
EXPECTED TO BE REDUCED HOWEVER.


$$

KULA