Saharan Dust Sunrise over Atlantic Ocean – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by Rolando Otero
Massive clouds of dust from Africa’s Sahara Desert are transported westward by wind during the Saharan dust season in the Atlantic, occasionally all the way to the United States.
Now, where is the dust?
A second swath of lighter dust was seen over the Caribbean on Wednesday morning, while satellite images showed thick dust stretching off the coast of Africa.
When will the United States be affected by the dust?
A cloud of dust is expected to fall in southern Florida on Saturday, according to a NASA projection model, and a larger cloud is expected to engulf the state by Wednesday, June 4. The entire Gulf Coast may be impacted by air dust late next week, while the initial dust cloud is predicted to pass before it reaches the remainder of the coast.
The majority of the dust will probably remain in the air rather than fall to the ground, according to AccuWeather meteorologists. This is good news for health concerns, but it could result in some stunning sunrises and sunsets in Florida over the course of the next week.
What impact does the dust have on Atlantic tropical storms?
Because dusty air contains roughly 50 percent less moisture than the normal tropical environment, large levels of dust can prevent tropical storm formation or the strengthening of an existing system.
Any storm that forms may be disrupted by strong winds in the dust layer, which can also significantly increase the vertical wind shear in and around the storm environment.
Despite the dust, AccuWeather forecasters are keeping an eye on the Atlantic for the formation of tropical storms over the course of the next two weeks, which will extend into the start of the Atlantic hurricane season.
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Chris began his writing as a hobby while attending Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Florida. Today he and his wife live in the Orlando area with their three children and dog.
