Map Shows Which States Could Be Impacted by Saharan Dust
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Clouds of Saharan dust carried by winds across the Atlantic Ocean are expected to cause hazy skies over parts of Florida, the Southeast, and the Gulf Coast this week, according to forecasters.
Why It Matters
Health officials warn that deteriorating air quality poses a health risk to the public, particularly for sensitive groups such as children, older adults, and those with preexisting conditions.
What To Know
Forecasters at AccuWeather said most of the plume would arrive in Florida by early Wednesday, extending across more of the Southeast by Thursday.
In some areas, dust and smoke may combine, creating a particularly hazy or dull sky and worse air quality than if only one element were present, the outlet said, though it also said the majority of Saharan dust is forecast to stay suspended thousands of feet above the ground, with little effect on surface-level air quality.
The dust originated in the Sahara Desert, AccuWeather said, where strong winds regularly blow dry air and dust westward from late spring through early fall.
An AccuWeather map shows which areas could be impacted by Saharan dust this week.
An AccuWeather map shows which areas could be impacted by Saharan dust this week.
AccuWeather
Much of the U.S. is also being impacted by wildfire smoke from neighboring Canada, which has already prompted numerous air quality alerts in roughly a dozen states.
As of early Thursday, the National Weather Service (NWS) had published alerts for a slew of states, including parts of Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Maryland, Nebraska, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Iowa.
Smoke from the blazes was expected to increase the concentration of fine particulates, according to the numerous air-quality alerts, and residents in affected areas were advised to consider limiting strenuous outdoor physical activity to reduce the risk of adverse health effects.
What People Are Saying
AccuWeather meteorologist Alex DaSilva said, in an advisory shared with Newsweek on Wednesday: "This is the biggest Saharan dust plume that we've seen so far this year. It is very common to see large plumes of Saharan dust coming across the Atlantic toward the United States in June and July."
"Many people will notice more colorful sunrises and sunsets, and a milky or hazy look in the sky."
Today In Florida weather anchor Vivian Gonzalez said on X, formerly Twitter, Thursday: "If you suffer from respiratory issues or allergies, the air quality is moderate due to the thicker plume of Saharan Dust that has settled across South Florida. Please take the proper precautions."
What Happens Next
In an advisory shared with Newsweek on Wednesday, AccuWeather forecast that impacts from Saharan dust would be noticeable across parts of the Southeast and Gulf Coasts by Friday.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
22 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Egg Recall Map Shows Warnings Issued to Customers in 9 States
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. August Egg Company has issued a recall on Friday for 1,700,000 brown cage-free and certified organic brown eggs due to potential fears of salmonella. Newsweek reached out to the company after hours via phone Friday night for comment. Why It Matters Numerous recalls have been initiated this year due to the potential for the following: damaged products, foodborne illness, contamination and undeclared food allergens. Millions of Americans experience food sensitivities or food allergies every year. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the nine "major" food allergens in the U.S. are eggs, milk, fish, wheat, soybeans, Crustacean shellfish, sesame, tree nuts and peanuts. The FDA warns that salmonella is an organism that could cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in frail or older people, young children and those with weakened immune systems. What To Know The FDA says in its alert that some of the eggs were distributed to grocery stores including Save Mart, FoodMaxx, Lucky, Smart & Final, Safeway, Raleys, Food 4 Less and Ralphs. Those eggs were distributed from February 3, 2025, to May 15, 2025, with sell by dates of March 4, 2025, and June 4, 2025, in both California and Nevada. The FDA says additional eggs were distributed from February 3, 2025, to May 6, 2025, with sell by dates of March 4, 2025, and June 19, 2025, in Walmart stores in Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, New Mexico, California, Washington, Nevada, Arizona and Wyoming. The plant code numbers for the recalled eggs can be found printed on the package and are P-6562 or CA5330 with Julian Dates from 32 to 126, the FDA says. The Julian Dates are codes of three to seven digits and represent the date that the food was packaged or manufactured. "This recall is associated with an ongoing outbreak investigation of Salmonella Enteritidis illnesses" the alert says, adding the investigation is related to products distributed in the nine states. The FDA alert also has a chart of the Julian Dates with corresponding item names. What People Are Saying The FDA alert, in part: "August Egg Company is not selling fresh shell eggs at this time. Our firm has voluntarily been diverting eggs to an egg-breaking plant for over 30 days, which pasteurizes the eggs and kills any potential foodborne pathogens." August Egg Company in the FDA alert: "August Egg Company of Hilmar, CA is voluntarily recalling 1,700,000 dozen shell eggs processed at our California plant and sold to various grocery customers. This recall has been initiated due to possible Salmonella enteritidis contamination, which poses a health risk. With that in mind, we believe it is appropriate out of an abundance of caution to conduct this voluntary recall, as consumers may still have these eggs in their homes. "It is important to know that when our processing plant identified this concern, we immediately began diverting all eggs from the plant to an egg-breaking facility, which pasteurizes the eggs and kills any pathogens. "August Egg Company's internal food safety team also is conducting its own stringent review to identify what measures can be established to prevent this situation from recurring. We are committed to addressing this matter fully and to implementing all necessary corrective actions to ensure this does not happen again." What Happens Next Customers with additional questions can call August Egg Company at 1-800-710-2554 from 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT and can also return the eggs to the original place of purchase for a refund.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Weather AWARE Saturday, Sunday, and Monday for strong to severe storms
Weather Aware from Friday through Monday for Strong to Severe Storms This evening, a cluster of storms (MCS) is anticipated to track across the northern part of the state. There is a Level 1 to 2/5 Risk for severe weather across Central Alabama, with the highest threat located north of I-20. The main threat will be gusty winds. Bring your rain gear to the Steel City Smooth Jazz Fest. Tonight, there will be some lingering storms across NE Alabama. Otherwise, we will be mostly cloudy with muggy lows in the lower 70s. Weekend Outlook: A cold front will stall north of Alabama in Tennessee all weekend, creating a northwest flow weather pattern. This will allow a series of upper-level waves to bring a cluster of strong to severe storms (MCS) from the Great Plains States to Alabama on Saturday. The SPC has placed Central Alabama under a Level 3/5 Enhanced Risk for severe storms that may produce damaging winds. Highs will be in the upper 80s. Another MCS is likely on Sunday morning, maintaining the same northwest flow weather pattern. SPC has placed Central Alabama in a Level 1/5 Marginal Risk for severe storms featuring gusty winds and highs in the lower 80s. Additionally, Saharan dust could move into the southeastern U.S. this weekend, causing the sky to take on a milky hue and creating beautiful sunrises and sunsets each day. Next Week's Outlook: The front will remain stalled north of Alabama. The warm and humid air will sustain an unstable atmosphere, allowing for daily scattered showers and storms. Some could be strong to severe with gusty winds, hail, and heavy rain. SPC has included Central Alabama in a Level 2/5 Slight Risk for Monday for another round of strong/severe storms with gusty winds. Be Weather Aware especially during the afternoon and evening. High temperatures will be in the mid-80s, with the heat index reaching the lower 90s each day. Be sure to follow the CBS 42 Storm Team: Follow Us on Facebook: Chief Meteorologist Dave Nussbaum, Meteorologist Michael Haynes, Meteorologist Alex Puckett, and Meteorologist Jacob Woods. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Newsweek
4 hours ago
- Newsweek
One State Emerges From Drought for First Time in Six Years
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Record rainfall earlier this spring has lifted Oklahoma fully out of drought conditions for the first time in nearly six years. With showers and thunderstorms expected over the next week for much of the state, National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologist Jennifer Thompson told Newsweek it will likely remain wetter than normal across the state for the foreseeable future. Why It Matters The abnormally wet spring saw climate sites across the state document record-breaking rainfall, with Oklahoma City experiencing its highest April rain total ever recorded. The wet pattern is continuing on Friday, with heavy rainfall posing myriad dangers to people across the state. As of Friday afternoon, multiple flood watches have been issued. Although more rain might further benefit Oklahoma's emergence from drought, NWS meteorologists warned that severe storms were possible Friday night. A stock photo of rainfall. A stock photo of rainfall. xphotoz/Getty What To Know On Thursday, the U.S. Drought Monitor Map released its weekly update, which included figures showing Oklahoma breaking its drought streak that began in July 2019. Although Oklahoma by far isn't the state hardest hit by drought, it has struggled with persistent moderate drought since summer 2019. Three months ago, more than a quarter of the state was classified as battling moderate drought. In that condition, Oklahoma noted difficulties such as hindered lake recreation; poor deer reproduction; falling water levels in seasonal creek and rain-fed ponds; reduced yield for summer crops; and an increased risk of wildfires. There is no drought reported across Oklahoma at the moment, although nearly 10 percent of the state is considered abnormally dry. Many of the challenges accompanying moderate drought conditions are lifted with abnormally dry conditions, although some crops might still be stressed and pond levels could be low. Although the Sooner State is now recovered from its years of drought, other U.S. states are still facing challenges. Exceptional drought, the most severe classification from the U.S. Drought Monitor, is in place for parts of Texas, Arizona, New Mexico and Nevada, with even more widespread documentation of severe and extreme drought. What People Are Saying A flood watch issued by the Norman, Oklahoma, NWS office: "Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. Creeks and streams may rise out of their banks." Drought Monitor Map said in a summary: "Additional rainfall this past week ended drought across Oklahoma and the Sooner State became drought-free for the first time since July 2019. The Lower Mississippi Valley and Tennessee Valley are also drought-free with 30 to 90-day precipitation averaging above normal." What Happens Next Most flood watches expire by Saturday afternoon. Oklahoma is anticipating slightly above normal precipitation in the immediate future, according to a six- to 10-day precipitation outlook published by the NWS Climate Prediction Center.
