I-8 closed due to sand, dust

Interstate 8 was closed for over an hour early Friday afternoon from Dunaway Road to Ocotillo and from Gordon's Well to Ogilby due to zero visibility from winds blowing sand and dust across the highway, according to the California Highway Patrol in El Centro. Today's (Saturday) National Weather Service forecast calls for sunny weather with less severe winds, between 10 and 16 mph, and gusts as high as 28 mph.

El Centro CHP spokesman Wes Boerner was urging motorists to stay off I-8 Friday if possible and said the interstate would continue to be patrolled. He said the road could be closed again if conditions worsened.

Boerner said there was a traveler's advisory in effect for "high profile" vehicles, such as trucks, campers and trailers.

He said those vehicles "catch the wind a little bit more than compact cars."

According to the NWS, a wind advisory was in effect until 8 p.m. Friday for El Centro, Imperial and Yuma counties, including parts of the interstate. Sustained winds of between 30 and 40 mph are expected.

A strong, dry cold front from the east was moving across the area and causing a strong wind from the southwest and west gusting to over 50 mph in some locations, especially Imperial County and the area along and around I-8, according to the NWS.

----

Nicole Squibbs can be reached at

nsquibbs@yumasun.com or 539-6855.