“Do not come out here, anybody!”
These are the scary statements spoken by the cameraman in the video at the bottom of this story.
A massive dust storm blew across the Texas Panhandle today, turning a stretch of I-27 outside Amarillo, Texas, into a disaster zone as multiple serious accidents closed the route. High winds carried heavy clouds of dust, decreasing visibility to almost nil and giving drivers little time to respond.
Officials said multiple cars and large trucks were involved in the accidents. Emergency personnel raced to the area to assist, although it is yet unclear how many individuals were injured. The heavy dust made driving nearly impossible, and many people didn’t have time to react before colliding with other vehicles.
Texas highway crashes as dust and high winds cut visibility
Weather experts have already predicted high winds of up to and over 50 miles per hour. When heavy winds blow across dry land, they gather up loose dirt and form a large, blinding cloud. People in the Texas Panhandle refer to this as a “blackout dust storm” since it obscures everything and makes visibility difficult.
Crews should soon be working to clean the wreckage and reopen the highway. Meanwhile, officials advise cars to avoid the region and drive cautiously in windy weather. For the time being, drivers in the Texas Panhandle must remain vigilant and hope that the wind subsides soon.