Latest news with #SaharanDustLayer
New York Post
4 days ago
- Climate
- New York Post
Florida residents warned ‘dirty rain' could fall as large Saharan dust plume is making its way to area
MIAMI – A large wave of Saharan dust making its way across the Atlantic Basin is forecast to arrive in the U.S. later this week, impacting the Southeast with hazy skies and 'dirty rain.' NOAA estimates that more than 180 million tons of dust leave the African continent every year, and the extremely dry air reduces thunderstorm activity and tropical cyclone formation. Saharan dust has taken over nearly the entire Atlantic Basin, according to NOAA satellites. One of the larger waves of concentrated dust approached the Caribbean on Monday. By Thursday, this thick plume is forecast to enter the Gulf of America, over the Florida Keys and cover much of the Sunshine State. Another round of dust will move in along the northern Gulf Coast by Friday and head into the Southeast. According to the FOX Forecast Center, the primary impacts will be a hazy sky and reduced visibility. Dust has also been known to reduce air quality, but that is not expected this week. NOAA satellites are tracking the Saharan Dust Layer as it wafts across the Atlantic Basin. The plume is forecast to arrive in Florida, the Gulf Coast and the Southeast on Thursday with effects lasting into the weekend. FOX Weather Silhouetted people on Fort Myers Beach at sunset under a large rain cloud. tunedin – However, there is also a positive aspect to dust plumes. As the larger dust particles scatter visible light, longer wavelengths like red, orange and pink will make for vibrant sunrises and sunsets. The Southeast will likely see these until the dust is swept north and disperses. With rain forecast across the Gulf Coast this weekend, the FOX Forecast Center is also tracking how the dust interacts with the moisture. If the timing lines up, 'dirty rain' could include dust particles leaving a layer of dust on surfaces once the rain dries.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Massive Saharan dust plumes will spice up Florida's sunsets starting on Saturday
Two massive plumes of Saharan dust are making their way toward the Gulf from the Atlantic. The first will reach South Florida by Saturday before scattering. The second plume will reach the Florida Panhandle near the end of next week, according to AccuWeather. Saharan dust is a natural phenomenon that occurs every year, typically starting late in the spring and ending in the early fall. It's characterized as a mass of dry, dusty air called the Saharan Air Layer (SAL), and it can help limit storm development as it coincides with hurricane season. Most people aren't likely to notice when Saharan dust reaches them. This time will be no different as AccuWeather meteorologists predict that the dust is likely to float around in the upper atmosphere. Saharan dust, also referred to as the Saharan Dust Layer (SAL), is an outbreak of dust from the Sahara Desert that has been kicked up about a mile into the air by tropical waves in the Atlantic. The layer of dust is about 2 to 2.5 miles thick, according to NOAA, and consists of warmth, dryness and strong winds that carry it westward over the Atlantic to North America. When plumes get large enough, it can impact the lower 48 states. The first, smaller dust plume will reach South Florida on Saturday but will scatter as it approaches the Gulf Coast, according to a NASA forecast model. The larger plume of Saharan dust will engulf the entire state of Florida, stretching eastward across Louisiana into Texas and northward into Georgia, by June 4. A good Florida sunset can stop anyone dead in their tracks, and next weekend will probably be full of them—provided the weather holds up. Given how high in the atmosphere Saharan dust sits, it can create vibrant sunsets and sunrises due to the way it scatters sunlight. During the day, at most, the sky could have a hazy white appearance if there are large enough quantities. Satellite imagery shows that the lighter plume of Saharan dust is currently spread out along the Caribbean Sea. The second plume has extended just off the western African coast. Saharan dust, more often than not, sticks to the upper atmosphere, where it poses little threat. When the dust does fall, its effects are similar to any other type of dust. People who already experience underlying lung conditions are at increased risk of complications. According to the American Lung Association, wheezing and coughing could be indications that you're experiencing elevated levels of dust exposure. To protect yourself, you should stay indoors and wear a face covering if you have to go outside. Storms and Saharan dust tend not to play well together. In the Atlantic, hurricanes often start as tropical waves that form off the western African coast, following the same trail as the SAL. It's a tough journey for the wave that requires a lot of warm water and moist air to fuel it. Enough Saharan dust in the atmosphere can interrupt this process by stealing all of the moisture, providing Caribbean and Gulf Coast residents some relief during hurricane season. This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Massive Saharan dust plumes will bring vibrant Florida sunsets
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Why the beautiful blue sky has become more hazy
AUSTIN (KXAN) — The haze has returned to our beautiful azure blue Central Texas sky. Why? There's a simple explanation. This is the season for agricultural burning in Mexico. This 'burning season' for our southern neighbors occurs during Mexico's dry season, which is essentially from the middle to March until May. The wet season in Mexico begins in June. This is the time when the farmers clear the land of unwanted vegetation, allowing for nutrients to return to their soils. This burning of the land also serves to help increase crops and grasses for the pastures. But this comes at a price to us here in Central Texas. When the wind comes out of the north, the area won't see any of this smoke. When the area's winds are coming out of the south, it allows for this smoke to easily come across the border to affect our sky. The smoke causes deteriorating air quality. It's not just ozone that causes poor air quality, but fine particulate matter, too. It has been mentioned many times in interviews with air quality experts, including the Clean Air Force of Central Texas, that fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, is very small. It's smaller than a hair follicle. The diminutive size of this, as it is airborne, allows it to travel deep into a person's respiratory tract, reaching the lungs. So, for as long as this seasonal agriculture burning continues, and in conjunction with a prevailing south wind, the air quality will likely stay at moderate levels while also contributing to that hazy sky. Another factor is at play as it pertains to this springtime haze. Did you know that the high humidity also contributes to the haze? Humid days with sunshine make it easier for the sky to keep the fine particulate matter hovering in our area. The increased moisture will hold this fine particulate matter for days. Wildfires can cause a hazy sky. The smoke from wildfires is made up of 'a mixture of gaseous pollutants' like carbon monoxide, along with water vapor, and that same particle pollution. It's the particle pollution that, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, is the main 'ingredient' of wildfire smoke as well as the main public health threat. It's on days like the area saw on Friday, March 16, where it's suggested that those with asthma, seasonal allergies, and other respiratory issues limit their outdoor activities. Those with these kinds of issues go from such short-term effects as coughing, sneezing, and shortness of breath to long-term effects far more serious, including an increased risk of heart and lung issues. So, what's creating this haze? A south wind is blowing fine particulate matter from the agricultural burning in Mexico, along with the higher humidity. But just as the burning season ends, another season begins. We're not too far away from still another factor that will make the sky hazy, and that is the dust that blows across the Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf from Africa. The Saharan Dust Layer begins to arrive in the middle of June. It lingers on and off until the middle of August. We'll address that when it gets here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
