Why is there dirt on my car? It could be dirty rain

Dirty splotches could be seen on a vehicle in Kitchener on March 20, 2025 after 'dirty rain' fell on parts of southwestern Ontario. (Dan Lauckner/CTV News)

Some people in southern Ontario woke up to a confusing sight: dirt on their cars and homes.

Instead of looking for a culprit nearby, you may want to look up.

According to experts with Environment Canada, parts of southern Ontario experienced a phenomenon known as ‘dirty rain.’ It happens when particles of dust mix with raindrops in the air, leaving behind dirty droplets or dusty film.

In a post on social media, the National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration in the U.S. said they were tracking a large amount of airborne dust wrapped up in storm earlier this week. A dust cloud moved across parts of New Mexico, Texas, Colorado, Kansas and Oklahoma. People living in Pennsylvania reported dirty rain in their area.

Environment Canada said the winds associated with the storm reached severe limits, with one gust reaching 94 km/h at the Windsor airport.