Intense Drought

The Dust Bowl occurred during the time of the Great Depression in the 1930s. A severe drought hit the Midwest and Southern Plains Regions of the United States. Over-farming in these areas led to soil degradation. This, in turn, led to erosion and poor soil quality. A lack of rain caused the soil to dry out, and then the exposed dirt blew away during massive dust storms.

One of the worst of these dust storms occurred on Sunday, April 14, 1935. It is known as Black Sunday. The "black blizzard" of dust was so thick that people couldn't even see their own hand in front of their face.