The Payson Roundup / Dust, ash covers cars after brief rain

Archive for Friday, October 30, 2009

October 30, 2009

Car washes got an unexpected boost in business Wednesday after a brief rainfall Tuesday night covered vehicles with a fine dusting of white dots.

Dennis Petersen, manager of the Circle H Carwash, said business was up nearly 260 percent by 3 p.m. Wednesday, with more cars waiting to be scrubbed.

On a normal day, the car wash’s two automatic drive-through systems normally service 50 to 60 cars. When Petersen arrived at work Wednesday morning he knew it would be a busy day because cars were already lined up. By the afternoon, 176 vehicles had gone through.

“I think everybody in Payson has come through,” he joked. Even drivers from Heber came in for washing with the small dots.

Petersen credits the weather for the mess.

A National Weather Service meteorologist said it is possible for dust and ash in the air to integrate with rain or sleet.

Luckily, the dots came right off with a good cleaning, Petersen said.