Drought conditions and seemingly unrelenting winds this week have whipped up massive dust storms across Kansas.

The National Weather Service in Dodge City said Wednesday the windiest period is now over in the state as the system moves off into the Great Lakes and northeastern United States.

Blowing dust is blamed for the zero-visibility conditions that caused a traffic accident that killed a Great Bend man on Tuesday. Stanton County schools also cancelled classes and activities that day.

Winter wheat also is suffering as the wind sucks up the little moisture that had been in fields.

Meteorologist Jeff Hutton says much of the dirt this year has been blowing in from eastern Colorado, where it is drier. But a lot of it is also coming off Kansas fields.