By Mary Manning, Tim Richardson

Published Thu, Oct 9, 2008 (9:46 a.m.)

Updated Thu, Oct 9, 2008 (3:39 p.m.)

The National Weather Service is reporting that dust from gusty southwest winds is affecting traffic on Interstate 15, U.S. Highway 95 and State Route 164 mostly south of the Las Vegas Valley throughout this afternoon.

State Route 164 connects Nipton, Calif., to U.S. 95 and Interstate 15 just south of Primm, Nev.

Toward the southwest and south of the Las Vegas Valley white and brownish clouds of dust were visible this afternoon, riding southwesterly winds.

The Nevada Highway Patrol reported to the Clark County Department of Air Quality and Environmental Management about 3 p.m., that traffic was shut down on U.S. 95 leading into Searchlight, about 60 miles south of Las Vegas, because of blowing dust, said Tina Gingras, assistant diirector of the county's department.

Winds are expected to continue and the department will issue a dust alert if the air quality standards are exceeded, Gingras said.

Toward the southwest and south of the Las Vegas Valley white and brownish clouds of dust were visible this afternoon, riding southwesterly winds.

The California Highway Patrol reported to the weather service that blowing dust near Mountain Pass affected both northbound and southbound lanes on I-15 at about 2 p.m.

The Clark County Department of Air Quality and Environmental Management issued a dust advisory this morning for today and Friday.

The county advised residents and construction site operators that gusts up to 28 mph are possible as a low pressure system dives from Canada and into Southern Nevada, the weather service said.

County air quality monitors reported moderate levels of dust in the Las Vegas Valley as of 2:10 p.m.

The county said that unhealthy levels of dust aren't expected, although children, the elderly and people with respiratory diseases should stay indoors during dust storms.

Air quality officials will continue monitoring the levels of particulate matter in the air and issue an alert if unhealthy levels of dust occur. Officials recommended the following tips to reduce dust:

• Drive slowly on unpaved roads.

• Don't take short cuts across vacant lots.

• Ride off-road vehicles in approved areas outside the urban Las Vegas Valley.

• Fence off barren property or cover it with gravel, rock or desert-friendly landscaping.

Additional information is available on the Department of Air Quality and Environmental Management Web site at www.accessclarkcounty.com/depts/daqem/Pages/index.aspx.