Brown Snow Falls In Colorado, Carrying Dust From Mexico 2000 Km Away
The white snow had brown traces which had never been seen before. The National Weather Service (NWS) later disclosed that this brown snow was actually dust from Mexico.
Several parts of the United States of America came under the trap of winter storm Xylia resulting in nearly three feet of snow in several regions over the weekend.
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However, while you might be expecting this show to have put a pristine white layer across the region, you¡¯d be surprised to know that most of it were actually brown.
Mexico dust storm invades the US
The white snow in Boulder, Colorado and other affected regions had brown traces which had never been seen before. The National Weather Service (NWS) later disclosed that this brown snow was actually dust from Mexico.
Tom Gill, a professor and scientist at the University of Texas, El Paso said in a statement to 10 Tampa Bay, that the dust was actually from a very specific agricultural part of central Mexico which he could denote based on the distinct orange-red-brown soils. In fact, he also revealed that he and his team were tracking it on Friday, and hoped if it would get in the snow. Looks like it did.
The dust that was lofted this afternoon from the playas in Mexico (hot pink on the satellite imagery) has now been transported all the way into Colorado! Fortunately, the dust seems to be above the surface, so no restrictions to visibility in NM. #nmwx pic.twitter.com/NsRd4dP5Eq
¡ª NWS Albuquerque (@NWSAlbuquerque) March 14, 2021
How did the snow get brown?
Sharon Sullivan, the meteorologist at the NWS in Albuquerque, explained in a conversation with CNN that all this occurred due to specific weather conditions. Mexico is experiencing a severe to extreme drought. During this time, winds travelling 60 to 70 miles per hour blew ahead of the storm. This wind had scooped up massive amounts of dust from Mexico.
Sullivan stated, ¡°Some of these particles are very fine, so it only takes about 15-20 mph to have them lifted off the ground.¡± The winds that were flowing were almost three times more than that. Moreover, drought-like conditions result in loose soil, making it easier for it to blow away.
Later this dust particle got fused with a snowflake or water particle and when it fell to the ground, it retained its brown colour, resulting in brownish snow throughout Colorado (roughly 1300-1700 miles away) and other parts of the US.
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Impact of brown snow dust
With such an unusual phenomenon, you¡¯d expect there to be a massive impact on the climate, however, it isn¡¯t going to be harmful or anything.
NWS expert Sullivan revealed that while there is no major impact of dust particles being a part of the snow, it will end up reducing the snow¡¯s ability to reflect sunlight, meaning it will absorb more sunlight and result in the snow getting melted faster than usual, resulting in a less snow-clad region overall.
