We may have had a wet start to the week, but we’re in for some interesting skies to come. According to AccuWeather, a plume of Saharan dust being transported across the Atlantic Ocean will bring hazy skies to parts of Florida, the Southeast and Gulf Coast this week.
“This is the biggest Saharan dust plume that we’ve seen so far this year. It is very common to see large plumes of Saharan dust coming across the Atlantic toward the United States in June and July,” said AccuWeather’s lead hurricane expert Alex DaSilva. “Many people will notice more colorful sunrises and sunsets, and a milky or hazy look in the sky.”
Why does this happen?
This phenomenon, also known as the Saharan Air Layer (SAL), is a dry dust plume that gets brought over by strong winds around this time of year. Carried by trade winds, these fine sand and dust particles travel between 5,000 and 20,000 feet above the Earth’s surface across the Atlantic.
When will it affect the region?
The plume is expected to reach Florida by the afternoon or evening of June 4, before moving over the Gulf Coast by Friday. According to The Weather Channel, drier air associated with the dust should decrease rainfall in South Florida by Thursday. In fact, Saharan dust is known to suppress the formation of storms in the tropics by drying out the atmosphere and increasing wind shear.
What can we expect from this Saharan dust?
When it reaches Florida, the dust will cause a noticeably orange or red tint in the sky, promising prettier sunrises and sunsets as a plus! But on the down side, it could rain down on people’s cars, leaving a brown residue.
Most of the dust is expected to remain high in the atmosphere and have little impact on air quality for most people. Of course, those who are sensitive to dust with asthma or respiratory issues are encouraged to keep an eye on air quality forecasts.