Latest news with #Reppert
The Herald Scotland
2 days ago
- Climate
- The Herald Scotland
The largest Saharan dust cloud of the year set to reach U.S. this week
Alan Reppert, AccuWeather senior meteorologist, told USA TODAY June 2 that the plume will likely make it over Florida on June 4 and move over the Gulf Coast the following two days. Reppert told USA TODAY that sunsets in the areas covered by dust will be "more vibrant" depending on the amount of dust in an area. "Florida could see hazy skies and more colorful sunsets enhanced by the dust from Africa as early as Thursday," DaSilva said in the report. "Hazy skies caused by the Saharan dust could be noticeable in Houston and New Orleans." The regions covered by the dust plume may see a slight impact on air quality, though the majority of the dust will not be dense enough to cause major problems, according to Reppert. What is Saharan dust? Saharan dust is dust and sand from the continent of Africa that gets brought over via wind around this time every year. Winds, known as trade winds, pick up Saharan dust, lift it into the atmosphere, and bring it across the Atlantic Ocean, Ross Giarratana, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service's Tampa Bay forecast office, previously told USA TODAY. June and July are the months that bring the most dust. "It happens every year; some years have more dust transportation across the Atlantic than others," said Sammy Hadi, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Miami, told the New York Times. "It's like rinse and repeat every year, it's part of a normal cycle of Earth's oscillations." Saharan dust also controls the number of storms that form in the tropics, according to DaSilva and Giarratana. A warm, moist environment is crucial to create a storm but the dust acts like a silica packet people receive in their packages and sucks out any moisture that might be in the atmosphere. "It basically can choke off these systems because, again, they want plenty of moisture, and when you're taking the moisture away, it makes it harder for thunderstorms to develop," DaSilva said previously. DaSilva said in the report that so-called "dirty rain" could leave dust stains and brown residue on cars in Florida this weekend. "It's just dust," DaSilva previously told USA TODAY. "It won't hurt you."
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
A Saharan dust plume is set to hit the Gulf Coast this week. See when it'll arrive
A plume of dust from the Saharan Desert appears set to sweep across Florida and the Gulf Coast this week, providing the region with enhanced sunrises and sunsets. AccuWeather hurricane expert Alex DaSilva, in a report released by the forecasting company on June 2, said that the plume is roughly 2,000 miles wide from west to east and 750 miles long from north to south. The plume appears to be the largest to reach America so far this year. Alan Reppert, AccuWeather senior meteorologist, told USA TODAY June 2 that the plume will likely make it over Florida on June 4 and move over the Gulf Coast the following two days. Reppert told USA TODAY that sunsets in the areas covered by dust will be "more vibrant" depending on the amount of dust in an area. "Florida could see hazy skies and more colorful sunsets enhanced by the dust from Africa as early as Thursday," DaSilva said in the report. "Hazy skies caused by the Saharan dust could be noticeable in Houston and New Orleans." The regions covered by the dust plume may see a slight impact on air quality, though the majority of the dust will not be dense enough to cause major problems, according to Reppert. Saharan dust is dust and sand from the continent of Africa that gets brought over via wind around this time every year. Winds, known as trade winds, pick up Saharan dust, lift it into the atmosphere, and bring it across the Atlantic Ocean, Ross Giarratana, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service's Tampa Bay forecast office, previously told USA TODAY. June and July are the months that bring the most dust. 'It happens every year; some years have more dust transportation across the Atlantic than others,' said Sammy Hadi, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Miami, told the New York Times. 'It's like rinse and repeat every year, it's part of a normal cycle of Earth's oscillations.' Saharan dust also controls the number of storms that form in the tropics, according to DaSilva and Giarratana. A warm, moist environment is crucial to create a storm but the dust acts like a silica packet people receive in their packages and sucks out any moisture that might be in the atmosphere. "It basically can choke off these systems because, again, they want plenty of moisture, and when you're taking the moisture away, it makes it harder for thunderstorms to develop," DaSilva said previously. DaSilva said in the report that so-called "dirty rain" could leave dust stains and brown residue on cars in Florida this weekend. "It's just dust," DaSilva previously told USA TODAY. "It won't hurt you." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: The largest Saharan dust cloud of the year set to reach U.S. this week
USA Today
3 days ago
- Climate
- USA Today
A Saharan dust plume is set to hit the Gulf Coast this week. See when it'll arrive
A Saharan dust plume is set to hit the Gulf Coast this week. See when it'll arrive Show Caption Hide Caption Saharan dust coming to Florida Saharan dust is sweeping off the coast of Africa and will be working into Central Florida this week. Fox - 35 Orlando A plume of dust from the Saharan Desert appears set to sweep across Florida and the Gulf Coast this week, providing the region with enhanced sunrises and sunsets. AccuWeather hurricane expert Alex DaSilva, in a report released by the forecasting company on June 2, said that the plume is roughly 2,000 miles wide from west to east and 750 miles long from north to south. The plume appears to be the largest to reach America so far this year. Alan Reppert, AccuWeather senior meteorologist, told USA TODAY June 2 that the plume will likely make it over Florida on June 4 and move over the Gulf Coast the following two days. Reppert told USA TODAY that sunsets in the areas covered by dust will be "more vibrant" depending on the amount of dust in an area. "Florida could see hazy skies and more colorful sunsets enhanced by the dust from Africa as early as Thursday," DaSilva said in the report. "Hazy skies caused by the Saharan dust could be noticeable in Houston and New Orleans." The regions covered by the dust plume may see a slight impact on air quality, though the majority of the dust will not be dense enough to cause major problems, according to Reppert. What is Saharan dust? Saharan dust is dust and sand from the continent of Africa that gets brought over via wind around this time every year. Winds, known as trade winds, pick up Saharan dust, lift it into the atmosphere, and bring it across the Atlantic Ocean, Ross Giarratana, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service's Tampa Bay forecast office, previously told USA TODAY. June and July are the months that bring the most dust. 'It happens every year; some years have more dust transportation across the Atlantic than others,' said Sammy Hadi, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Miami, told the New York Times. 'It's like rinse and repeat every year, it's part of a normal cycle of Earth's oscillations.' Saharan dust also controls the number of storms that form in the tropics, according to DaSilva and Giarratana. A warm, moist environment is crucial to create a storm but the dust acts like a silica packet people receive in their packages and sucks out any moisture that might be in the atmosphere. "It basically can choke off these systems because, again, they want plenty of moisture, and when you're taking the moisture away, it makes it harder for thunderstorms to develop," DaSilva said previously. DaSilva said in the report that so-called "dirty rain" could leave dust stains and brown residue on cars in Florida this weekend. "It's just dust," DaSilva previously told USA TODAY. "It won't hurt you."
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Pollen expected to surpass historical averages in 39 states this year: Report
Pollen counts likely will exceed historical averages in 39 states this year as warmer weather starts to blanket much of the U.S., meteorologists are warning. Experts are urging those who suffer from seasonal allergies to take heed and prepare for an intense allergy season that could last longer and linger into the fall months. 'About one-quarter of U.S. adults have been diagnosed with seasonal allergies, and nearly one in five children have seasonal allergies,' Alan Reppert, a senior meteorologist at AccuWeather, said in statement. 'Millions of people living with seasonal allergies will be struggling with more intense symptoms that will likely stick around longer this year in many areas,' he added. Reppert attributed these complications to the wet and warm weather patterns anticipated later this year, which he projected would lead to these unwelcome spikes in pollen. He and his colleagues also looked to the colder and snowier winter that much of the country experienced, which will now be upended by warmer spring temperatures overall. The hotter weather would be consistent with springs in recent years and foster longer growing seasons and earlier starts to allergy season, added Brett Anderson, a senior meteorologist and climate expert for AccuWeather. Thanks to changing climate conditions, Anderson said in a statement that seasonal allergy seasons are lasting one to four weeks longer in many parts of the country, in comparison to 50 years ago. 'There will be variability year to year depending on spring temperatures, storm tracks, and additional moisture from tropical storms and hurricanes, but the overall trend is clear,' Anderson said. Tree pollen, the first of three primary allergens in the U.S., begins in the spring once ground temperatures climb to 40-45 degrees Fahrenheit, according to an AccuWeather report. Next in line is a wave of grass pollen in the late spring and early summer, followed by weed pollen in the late summer and fall. 'The cold start to the year in much of the eastern half of the country will keep tree pollen levels lower to start, but there can still be a week period of very high levels,' Reppert said. The meteorologists projected that the worst of the tree pollen would strike the Gulf Coast, the Central Plains, the Northern Rockies and the Pacific Northwest. Tree pollen levels may be higher than the historical averages across a 2,000-mile-long zone, spanning 22 states, per the report. However, Reppert noted that dry weather in the Southwest through the spring should ultimately help the season end there after a ferocious start. The Northeast and the Pacific Northwest will likely face the most severe grass-related allergy seasons, particularly in June and July amid a probable warm and wet start to summer, according to AccuWeather. As for weed pollen, these allergens are expected to do their worst and peak in July across the Tennessee Valley, but they may also usher in a second peak due to a rise in moisture toward the end of the summer, the report found. As the planet continues to warm, Anderson warned that the trend of longer and more intense allergy seasons will likely persist over the next decade. Contributing to this phenomenon is the burning of fossil fuels, which releases carbon dioxide into the air and creates warmer air — which in turn, can hold more moisture, he explained. 'The combination of more rainfall that can boost plant growth, higher spring temperatures, longer growing seasons, and more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere triggering increased pollen production is the reason why more people are experiencing seasonal allergy symptoms for the first time, and many longtime allergy suffers are dealing with worsening symptoms,' Anderson added. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
20-03-2025
- Climate
- The Hill
Pollen expected to surpass historical averages in 39 states this year: Report
Pollen counts will likely exceed historical averages in 39 states this year as warmer weather starts to blanket much of the U.S., meteorologists are warning. Experts are urging those who suffer from seasonal allergies to take heed and prepare for an intense allergy season that could last longer and linger into the fall months. 'About one-quarter of U.S. adults have been diagnosed with seasonal allergies, and nearly one in five children have seasonal allergies,' Alan Reppert, a senior meteorologist at AccuWeather, said in statement. 'Millions of people living with seasonal allergies will be struggling with more intense symptoms that will likely stick around longer this year in many areas,' he added. Reppert attributed these complications to the wet and warm weather patterns anticipated later this year, which he projected would lead to these unwelcome spikes in pollen. He and his colleagues also looked to the colder and snowier winter that much of the country experienced, which will now be upended by warmer spring temperatures overall. The hotter weather would be consistent with springs in recent years and foster longer growing seasons and earlier starts to allergy season, added Brett Anderson, a senior meteorologist and climate expert for AccuWeather. Thanks to changing climate conditions, Anderson said in a statement that seasonal allergy seasons are lasting one to four weeks longer in many parts of the country, in comparison to 50 years ago. 'There will be variability year to year depending on spring temperatures, storm tracks, and additional moisture from tropical storms and hurricanes, but the overall trend is clear,' Anderson said. Tree pollen, the first of three primary allergens in the U.S., begins in the spring once ground temperatures climb to 40-45 degrees Fahrenheit, according to an AccuWeather report. Next in line is a wave of grass pollen in the late spring and early summer, followed by weed pollen in the late summer and fall. 'The cold start to the year in much of the eastern half of the country will keep tree pollen levels lower to start, but there can still be a week period of very high levels,' Reppert said. The meteorologists projected that the worst of the tree pollen would strike the Gulf Coast, the Central Plains, the Northern Rockies and the Pacific Northwest. Tree pollen levels may be higher than the historical averages across a 2,000-mile-long zone, spanning 22 states, per the report. However, Reppert noted that dry weather in the Southwest through the spring should ultimately help the season end there after a ferocious start. The Northeast and the Pacific Northwest will likely face the most severe grass-related allergy seasons, particularly in June and July amid a probable warm and wet start to summer, according to AccuWeather. As for weed pollen, these allergens are expected to do their worst and peak in July across the Tennessee Valley, but they may also usher in a second peak due to a rise in moisture toward the end of the summer, the report found. As the planet continues to warm, Anderson warned that the trend of longer and more intense allergy seasons will likely persist over the next decade. Contributing to this phenomenon is the burning of fossil fuels, which releases carbon dioxide into the air and creates warmer air — which in turn, can hold more moisture, he explained. 'The combination of more rainfall that can boost plant growth, higher spring temperatures, longer growing seasons, and more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere triggering increased pollen production is the reason why more people are experiencing seasonal allergy symptoms for the first time, and many longtime allergy suffers are dealing with worsening symptoms,' Anderson added.
