REDMOND, Wash. - Residents around Puget Sound were baffled Sunday when a thin layer of ash-like powder suddenly appeared, coating their cars and homes.

Redmond is just one of the places where people spotted the mystery dust. Residents near Carnation, Gig Harbor and Kingston also reported seeing it.

Dave and Edith Creed of Maple Valley were mystified when they discovered the thin layer of dust coating their truck, SUV and camper. On some surfaces, the dust seems to turn orange and, mixed with some moisture, it formed circles, they said.

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Redmond is just one of the places where people spotted the mystery dust. Residents near Carnation, Gig Harbor and Kingston also reported seeing it too.

"We've never seen anything like this," said David Creed.

About 30 miles away, residents in Lake Marcel north of Carnation awoke Sunday to the fine powder blanketing the neighborhood.

"Living out here in 40 years, I've never seen anything like it," said Beth Marcey.

"Kind of volcanic. It reminded me of when Mount St. Helens blew," said Bey Braun.

Above all, it has everyone scratching their heads.

"We're just kind of hoping someone out there knows what it is," said Marcey.

People speculate it was anything from meteor activity to people burning a lot of wood. The most plausible explanation was tree pollen.  Some residents say cedar trees have been very active this year.