Huge Saharan dust plume reaches parts of US

AUSTIN (KXAN/WFLA) — A huge plume of dust is drifting across the Atlantic and is set to impact parts of the U.S. ahead of the July 4 holiday.

The Saharan dust was forecast to impact Florida as the weekend began, and will likely impact Texas and other Gulf states by Monday morning.

What is Saharan dust?

Saharan dust is “aeolian” mineral dust from the Sahara desert, the largest hot desert in the world spanning over 3,474,919 square miles. It stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea and from the Mediterranean Sea to the Niger River valley and the Sudan region to the south.

How does it get here? First, hot and dry air rises from the surface of the desert carrying fine particles of dust from the desert’s sand. The air, full of dust, heads to the highest part of the atmosphere where it gets caught up in the Trade Winds that blow east to west.

The blanket of dry air and strong winds also creates a less favorable environment for tropical cyclones to form. That’s good news for us as the projected “very active” hurricane season gets underway.

It’s been said that the dust also serves to lower the humidity, stealing moisture from the air. While that can be beneficial at times, lowering humidity can cut chances for rain.

The dust itself can also block sunlight, depending on how thick it is, which can prevent the sun from warming the ocean, according to meteorologist Amanda Holly of Nexstar’s WFLA.

Because Saharan dust acts like a cap in the atmosphere, it can make it harder for storms to form. This is part of why we see more tropical storm development in the second half of August and September.

Hurricane Beryl, a Category 3 storm as of Sunday morning, was able to develop rapidly because it is south of the current plume of Saharan dust where there is more moisture, making it easier for the storm to strengthen.

However, the Saharan dust has a positive impact on the ecosystem, bringing minerals rich in iron and phosphorous to the area. As a result, the dust acts as a fertilizer, assisting forests and other soils and vegetation to gain important nutrients.

But, by far, the greatest negative is what it does to our air quality. People who have breathing issues have a more difficult time with those issues during times of dust. The fine dust particles also lead to irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat.

What should you do, then, if you are adversely affected by the dust? The easiest solution is to stay indoors as much as possible. If you must be outdoors, wear a mask, similar to the one worn by many during COVID. A KN95 is probably the best. HEPA filters should be used to clean the air at home or in offices.

As aforementioned, times when the dust is hovering in the sky will often lead to some stellar sunrises and sunsets.

Saharan dust is common this time of year. The plumes typically begin in mid-June and run through mid-August, peaking somewhere in the middle. According to NOAA, the plumes of dust seem to rapidly subside after mid-August, which is also when we begin to see an uptick in tropical activity.