Mysterious milky rain falls in the Northwest

Liquid that looks like milk fell from the sky on Friday, and ended up in a Spokane National Weather Service rain gauge.

The milky-white, dirty rain fell over parts of eastern Oregon and Washington Friday, leaving windows, vehicles, and people, coated with the ashy substance. Early speculation pointed to volcano eruptions as far away as Russia.

But now it looks like the source of the mystery rain is much closer to home: Nevada. This powerful storm hit the Reno area Thursday night and Friday. Its winds, gusting to more than 60 miles an hour, kicked up blinding dust causing dozens of crashes.

According to the National Weather Service Spokane office, there was a constant south wind at roughly 4,700 feet above sea level Thursday night and Friday morning. These 40 to 50 mile-an-hour winds likely transported Nevada's light-colored desert dust north over Oregon and Washington, where it mixed with rain.

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