In an extraordinary weather event that stunned residents and experts alike, a massive wall of dust engulfed the city of Chicago on Friday, casting the skyline into an eerie orange haze and disrupting daily life.

Satellite images captured by weather monitoring systems showed a towering plume of dust sweeping across the region in what meteorologists are calling a rare “haboob”-like phenomenon, more typical of arid desert regions than the Midwest.

According to a report by Metro, the thick cloud of dust rolled in dramatically, prompting shock and concern among residents.

Social media was flooded with images and videos of the looming dust wall, with many likening the scenes to post-apocalyptic movies. Visibility dropped sharply as the dust storm moved in, triggering warnings from local authorities and emergency services.

Meteorologists explained that the unusual event was caused by a cold front colliding with a hot and dry air mass over the Great Plains, stirring up loose topsoil and debris.

Strong gusty winds carried the dust eastward, culminating in the sweeping front that overtook Chicago on Friday afternoon.

“This is something we typically associate with the Southwest,” said one National Weather Service (NWS) official quoted in the article. “To see a dust storm of this magnitude hit a major city like Chicago is incredibly rare.”

The storm disrupted air travel, with several flights at O’Hare and Midway airports delayed due to poor visibility. Residents, particularly those with respiratory conditions, were advised to stay indoors and limit outdoor activity.

Air quality indexes spiked to unhealthy levels, and health officials urged people to wear masks when going outside.

Experts are now raising concerns about the broader implications of such events, noting that climate change may be contributing to increasingly volatile and unusual weather patterns across the United States.

Drier spring conditions and topsoil erosion in surrounding states are believed to have exacerbated the storm’s impact.

Cleanup efforts have already begun as city workers clear dust from roads and public spaces. However, authorities warn that more such events could occur if drought conditions in neighboring regions persist.

As Chicago recovers from the storm, residents are left with haunting memories of a day when the sky turned orange and a wall of dust descended on the Windy City.