Latest news with #GeorgeRizzuto
New York Times
6 days ago
- Climate
- New York Times
Saharan Dust Is Expected to Ramp Up Over Florida on Thursday
A cloud of Saharan dust over the Caribbean on Wednesday is expected to drift into South Florida as early as Wednesday night, spreading across the state on Thursday and bringing drier weather after several days of rain. The dry air and dust, known as the Saharan Air Layer, have traveled more than 5,000 miles from North Africa as a discernible mass that even someone without a degree in meteorology could identify on satellite. The plume is expected to fall apart in coming days, with some dust moving into the southeast Atlantic Ocean, potentially grazing Georgia and South Carolina, and some scattering across the Gulf, likely filtering into as far as Texas by Friday and into the weekend. 'It's just south of the tip of Florida right now, over the Bahamas,' George Rizzuto, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Miami, said Wednesday morning. 'We'll see that ramp up over South Florida in the next 18 to 24 hours.' When the plume arrives in Florida, Mr. Rizzuto said, it will dry out the atmosphere and prevent storms from developing. This drier weather will come after three days of heavy rain in Florida. The dust is lifted off the Sahara by winds. The Saharan Air Layer forms when winds lift sand and minerals from the Sahara in North Africa into the atmosphere. It then gets whisked away by a strong wind current, which sometimes pushes it north into Europe, but more commonly carries it west across the Atlantic Ocean. It usually reaches the Caribbean and the Gulf Coast region several times a year. The dust events occur year-round but are most common from about mid-May into August, usually peaking mid-June to July. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Slow-moving rain system targeting Florida: How much rain is in the forecast for Naples?
Those unused umbrellas hidden away in a cars and closets are likely in line for a good workout as early as Monday. Let's call that good news, OK? Actually, it's a double-dose of good news. First, Mother's Day should not be impacted. Second, when it comes to the weather, any rain in the forecast is welcome right now based on the severe drought conditions that has plagued Southwest Florida do far in 2025. According to meteorologist George Rizzuto at the National Weather Service in Miami, SWFL and Naples will be entering a couple days of wet weather on Monday (May 12) and Tuesday (May 13) with the most widespread rain expected on Monday (May 12). "This will hopefully make at least a dent in the severe drought conditions we've been experiencing," Rizzuto said. In terms of rainfall totals, Rizzuto said a fair estimate would be about 2-3 inches total Monday morning through Wednesday morning in the Naples area. "We're still a few days out so there is still some time for the forecast to change a bit, but as things stand now, northern Florida is anticipated to get the higher rainfall totals," he said. Rizzuto said Florida's rainy season begins on May 15 (based on climatology). Is this storm the start of rainy season? "I can't really declare the official start based on one or two rainy days, Rizzuto said, "as this is so variable from year to year. I'd better describe the beginning of the rainy season as a gradual trend towards daily showers and thunderstorms through the beginning and middle of May rather than one specific event. Overall as we head further into May, daily showers and thunderstorms and rainy stretches like this will become more and more common and are pretty typical for this time of year." According to AccuWeather, there's a 25% chance for rain on May 10 for Naples. It will be breezy and humid in the morning with clouds followed by a brightening sky. This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Naples rain: Forecast has slow-moving weather system impacting Florida
