Latest news with #SaharaDust
Washington Post
3 days ago
- Climate
- Washington Post
A colossal cloud of Sahara dust is smothering the Caribbean en route to the US
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — A massive cloud of dust from the Sahara Desert blanketed most of the Caribbean on Monday in the biggest event of its kind this year as it heads toward the United States. The cloud extended some 2,000 miles (3,200 kilometers) from Jamaica to well past Barbados in the eastern Caribbean, and some 750 miles (1,200 kilometers) from the Turks and Caicos Islands in the northern Caribbean down south to Trinidad and Tobago.
Gizmodo
4 days ago
- Climate
- Gizmodo
A Gigantic Cloud of Saharan Dust Is Barreling Toward Florida
An enormous cloud of dust from the Sahara is floating westward over the Atlantic Ocean, heading straight for Florida. The densest part of the African dust plume has already reached the Caribbean and could blow into the Sunshine State by midweek, according to the National Weather Service office in Miami. When the dust rolls in, it will likely lead to drier local weather, diminished air quality, and exceptionally vivid sunrises and sunsets, meteorologists say. Around 1 p.m. on Monday, the NWS office in San Juan, Puerto Rico said that peak concentrations of Sahara dust were rolling into the area and were expected to arrive within the afternoon. The agency has issued multiple air quality alerts, as inhaling dust can irritate respiratory systems and worsen allergies, asthma, and other respiratory conditions. These particles can also trap heat near the ground, and as such, NWS San Juan has issued a heat advisory that will remain in effect through Tuesday. Southeasterly winds combined with the effects of the dust cloud are expected to keep temperatures above normal in many coastal and urban areas, the agency stated. At the end of last week, a thin veil of dust was already dispersing over Florida, NWS Miami meteorologist Ana Torres-Vazquez told Scientific American. By midweek, a thicker, denser plume will billow into the state, though meteorologists expect it will be patchier than the current conditions in the Caribbean. Some patches of dust could reach the rest of the Gulf Coast by late this week, according to The Weather Channel. Formally known as the Saharan Air Layer, or SAL, this mass of extremely dry, dusty air forms over northern Africa each year from late spring to early fall, according to NOAA's Atlantic Oceanographic & Meteorological Laboratory. It's created by ripples in the lower-to-middle atmosphere—called tropical waves—that track along the southern edge of the Sahara Desert and waft massive amounts of dust up into the atmosphere, Jason Dunion, a NOAA meteorologist, explained in a 2020 interview. Every three to five days, the SAL moves over the tropical North Atlantic Ocean in what's known as an 'outbreak.' This activity typically peaks from late June to mid-August, and during the peak period, outbreaks stretch farther west. Once or twice a summer, an SAL travels more than 5,000 miles to the Gulf Coast, blowing across states from Florida to Texas. That's precisely what's happening now, according to NOAA, which tracks the SAL using its GOES-16 satellite. The arrival of this SAL happens to coincide with the start of the Atlantic hurricane season, which officially began on Sunday, June 1. The warmth, dryness, and strong winds associated with this mass of dusty air have been shown to suppress tropical cyclone formation and intensification, according to Dunion. Thus, the SAL typically prevents hurricanes from taking shape. But despite this, meteorologists are already monitoring an area along the southeast coast for potential subtropical or tropical development. AccuWeather predicts that, over the next 10 days, dry air from the SAL will alternate with moist air over the Caribbean and off the coast of Florida. This may cause a zone of moisture to develop from South Florida to the Bahamas and Cuba early this week, potentially bringing several inches of rain and thunderstorms to the region. While the risk of tropical development is low, heavy rain could result in minor coastal flooding, rip currents, and rough surf by mid-to-late week, AccuWeather reports. On the bright side, Florida residents—and potentially those in other Gulf Coast states—can expect to see some especially breathtaking sunrises and sunsets this week, thanks to the SAL. That's because high concentrations of airborne dust enhance the bright red and orange hues that result from low-angle sunlight passing through the atmosphere, according to NOAA. The SAL could linger over the southeast for several days, though it's unclear when the dust will begin to dissipate. Meteorologists will be watching closely to see how its presence impacts air quality, visibility, and the early days of hurricane season.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Apocalyptic aerial hazard the size of US barrels toward Florida triggering public health warnings
A massive plume of dust the size of the entire US is moving across the Atlantic Ocean and is set to hit Florida this week. The dust cloud is coming from the Sahara Desert and was formed by strong winds sweeping tiny sand and mineral particles off the surface. Officials in Puerto Rico have already warned residents of poor air quality as the dust sweeps over the Caribbean. The National Weather Service alerted the island that 'peak concentrations of Sahara dust from this event are rolling in and arriving in the next few hours.' The plume is predicted to hit South Florida by Wednesday and the Gulf States a few days later, but locals could begin seeing dust hanging in the atmosphere sooner. Experts warn that it can make breathing difficult, especially for people with asthma, allergies, or other respiratory issues, because it carries fine particles that can irritate the lungs. As of Monday, t he cloud extended roughly 2,000 miles from Jamaica to well past Barbados in the eastern Caribbean, and about 750 miles from the Turks and Caicos Islands in the north down to Trinidad and Tobago in the south. 'It's very impressive,' said Alex DaSilva, lead hurricane expert with AccuWeather. While the plume is moving toward the US, DaSilva said it likely lost most of its concentration in the eastern Caribbean. 'Those islands tend to see more of an impact, more of a concentration where it can actually block out the sun a little bit at times,' he added. Scientists in Florida have reported seeing slightly hazy skies this wee, Joseph Prospero, professor emeritus at the University of Miami Center for Aerosol Science and Technology, told The New York Times: 'Typically we have nice blue skies, but with the dust, the whole sky looks soft and warm because the particles themselves are red.' 'Everything looks muted,' he added. The dry and dusty air known as the Saharan Air Layer forms over the Sahara Desert in Africa and moves west across the Atlantic Ocean starting around April until about October. Each summer, seasonal weather patterns like the West African Monsoon and high-pressure systems create strong winds that sweep across the Sahara. These winds pick up tiny particles known as aeolian dust and lift them into the atmosphere. Meanwhile, the Bermuda-Azores High, a high-pressure system over the Atlantic Ocean, produces steady east-to-west winds that help carry the dust across the ocean. It also prevents tropical waves from forming during the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs June 1 to November 30. June and July usually have the highest dust concentration on average, with plumes traveling anywhere from 5,000 feet to 20,000 feet above the ground, DaSilva said. In June 2020, a massive Saharan dust cloud, nicknamed the 'Godzilla plume,' swept from West Africa across the Atlantic, bringing hazy skies from Texas to the Carolinas. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) called it the largest event in nearly 50 years, with reduced visibility and air quality alerts issued across multiple states. Then in July 2023, another thick wave of Saharan dust blanketed Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi, turning skies orange and pushing air quality into 'unhealthy for sensitive groups' in cities like Miami and Houston. This year's plume is different as it's earlier, denser, and more concentrated, with higher levels of fine particles. As a result, health officials and meteorologists are keeping a close eye on its impact. The size and intensity of these dust clouds vary from year to year, but scientists believe that shifting wind patterns and climate change may be contributing to more frequent and powerful plumes.
CBC
4 days ago
- Climate
- CBC
Huge Sahara dust cloud smothers the Caribbean en route to the U.S.
Social Sharing A massive cloud of dust from the Sahara Desert blanketed most of the Caribbean on Monday in the biggest event of its kind this year as it heads toward the United States. The cloud extended some 3,200 kilometres from Jamaica to well past Barbados in the eastern Caribbean, and some 1,200 kilometres from the Turks and Caicos Islands in the northern Caribbean down south to Trinidad and Tobago. "It's very impressive," said Alex DaSilva, lead hurricane expert with AccuWeather. The hazy skies unleashed sneezes, coughs and watery eyes across the Caribbean, with local forecasters warning that those with allergies, asthma and other conditions should remain indoors or wear face masks if outdoors. The dust concentration was high, at 0.55 aerosol optical depth — the highest amount so far this year, said Yidiana Zayas, a forecaster with the U.S. National Weather Service in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The aerosol optical depth measures how much direct sunlight is prevented from reaching the ground by particles, according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. WATCH | When Sahara sand, dust blew into U.K. in 2014: Sahara sand, dust blows into U.K. 11 years ago Duration 1:59 Gale force winds carried particles more than 3,000 kilometres north This plume is expected to hit Florida, Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi late this week and into the weekend, DaSilva said. However, plumes usually lose most of their concentration in the eastern Caribbean, he noted. "Those islands tend to see more of an impact, more of a concentration where it can actually block out the sun a little bit at times," he said. The dry and dusty air known as the Saharan Air Layer forms over the Sahara Desert in Africa and moves west across the Atlantic Ocean starting around April until about October, according to NOAA. It also prevents tropical waves from forming during the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs June 1 to Nov. 30. June and July usually have the highest dust concentration on average, with plumes traveling anywhere from 1,500 metres (5,000 feet) to 6,100 metres (20,000 feet) above the ground, DaSilva said. In June 2020, a record-breaking cloud of Sahara dust smothered the Caribbean. The size and concentration of the plume hadn't been seen in half a century, prompting forecasters to nickname it the "Godzilla dust cloud."
Associated Press
4 days ago
- Climate
- Associated Press
A colossal cloud of Sahara dust is smothering the Caribbean en route to the US
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — A massive cloud of dust from the Sahara Desert blanketed most of the Caribbean on Monday in the biggest event of its kind this year as it heads toward the United States. The cloud extended some 2,000 miles (3,200 kilometers) from Jamaica to well past Barbados in the eastern Caribbean, and some 750 miles (1,200 kilometers) from the Turks and Caicos Islands in the northern Caribbean down south to Trinidad and Tobago. 'It's very impressive,' said Alex DaSilva, lead hurricane expert with AccuWeather. The hazy skies unleashed sneezes, coughs and watery eyes across the Caribbean, with local forecasters warning that those with allergies, asthma and other conditions should remain indoors or wear face masks if outdoors. The dust concentration was high, at .55 aerosol optical depth, the highest amount so far this year, said Yidiana Zayas, a forecaster with the National Weather Service in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The aerosol optical depth measures how much direct sunlight is prevented from reaching the ground by particles, according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The plume is expected to hit Florida, Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi late this week and into the weekend, DaSilva said. However, plumes usually lose most of their concentration in the eastern Caribbean, he noted. 'Those islands tend to see more of an impact, more of a concentration where it can actually block out the sun a little bit at times,' he said. The dry and dusty air known as the Saharan Air Layer forms over the Sahara Desert in Africa and moves west across the Atlantic Ocean starting around April until about October, according to NOAA. It also prevents tropical waves from forming during the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs June 1 to Nov. 30. June and July usually have the highest dust concentration on average, with plumes traveling anywhere from 5,000 feet to 20,000 feet above the ground, DaSilva said. In June 2020, a record-breaking cloud of Sahara dust smothered the Caribbean. The size and concentration of the plume hadn't been seen in half a century, prompting forecasters to nickname it the 'Godzilla dust cloud.'
