Rain mixed with dust created the gunky mess many Utahns found on their cars this week. (Saige Miller)
SALT LAKE CITY — If you noticed your car was extra filthy, it’s because it rained mud Tuesday.
Technically, it was dust from the West Desert, according to Utah’s Department of Environmental Quality, which was carried up by the wind and came down with Tuesday’s midday rain.
People out visiting carwashes Wednesday in Salt Lake City describe it as a muddy gunk all over their cars.
“It was thick and caky,” said one woman.
“It looked like a truck just drove by and hit a mud pile all over my windshield,” said another man.
Both were visiting a carwash in downtown Salt Lake City, hoping to scrub their cars clean of the dried mud.
One employee also said the Mister Car where he works was extra busy.
“So far, we’ve had pretty high volume. It’s been pretty crazy. [Lines] out to the street on 300 West,” he said.
The National Weather Service tells KSL NewsRadio that mud rain is fairly rare and happens only a few times a year.