Saharan Dust Is Closing In: What It Means for You

The Saharan dust cloud is heading to the U.S. in the days ahead. What does this massive dust cloud mean for the U.S. as it reaches its peak volume? Read on for everything that you need to know.

Origins and Specifics of the Saharan Dust Layer

A large plume of dust originating in the Sahara Desert in Africa is making its way across the tropical North Atlantic and toward the U.S. The dust cloud comes with a host of impacts, including the suppression of tropical weather in the Atlantic basin and the deterioration of air quality for those in its path.

The Saharan dust cloud first comes to life when the temperatures spike across the desert terrain of Africa. The intense daytime heating that naturally occurs in the Sahara this time of the year sends dust particles aloft. Disturbances such as cold fronts move over the terrain, sending the particles to the west across the continent and toward the Atlantic Ocean.

Once the plume of dust ejects off the coast of Africa, it travels over the cooler and moisture-rich layer of air that forms a temperature inversion. This inversion allows the dust layer to stay intact as it pushes to the west across the waters of the Atlantic.

Depending on the strength of the upper-level winds at the time, the dust clouds can travel fully intact as far as Central America, Florida, the Gulf Coast, and Texas. In extreme situations, the dust cloud can cover an area as big as the Lower 48.

Climatologists typically notice the beginning of the dust plume formation in the middle of June. The dust cloud peaks between the end of June and the middle of August. During this peak time period, you can expect new waves of dust to move off the coast of Africa at a rate of about every three to five days.

Florida experienced its first major dust cloud of the season on June 27. The plume traveled farther west, arriving in Texas on June 29 before taking a turn to the north. Forecasters are warning that more frequent and more intense dust invasions are on the horizon in the coming weeks. Other than a bit of hazy conditions, this first dust cloud of the season was relatively minor.

Meteorologists track the Saharan dust particles through the use of satellites. The satellites use a bevy of visible, infrared, and water vapor channels to track the associated temperatures and wind speeds within the plume. This data allows forecasters to monitor the path of the dust outbreak and how it may impact the weather in the U.S. and beyond.

Impacts of the Saharan Dust Cloud

The Saharan dust cloud impacts the weather in a myriad of ways. The most notable effect is that the dust puts a lid on tropical development in the Atlantic basin.

The composition of the dust cloud has about 50% less moisture than what you would typically find in a tropical environment. The dry air stops budding tropical weather in its tracks.

The Saharan dust layer also packs strong winds at times. Winds frequently hitting speeds up to 55 mph are another tropical weather mitigator, tearing storms apart before they get a chance to organize and strengthen.

The warm air associated with the plume of dust also acts as a stabilizing force on the temperatures. Stable air is another factor known to suppress the development of tropical features.

The peak of the dust through the middle of August helps to explain why most tropical weather seasons do not generally ramp up until the end of August. While some features are able to sneak through the train of dust clouds, the prevalence of this dry and dusty air serves to put a lid on development in the short term.

In addition to suppressing clouds and thunderstorms, the dust cloud can also send the temperatures soaring as far as the U.S. Dry and dusty air also happens to mitigate the chances of afternoon thunderstorm activity. For many areas of the U.S., the typical afternoon storms provide a cooling effect. Without these thunderstorms popping off as frequently, the temperatures find the space that they need to climb to unseasonably warm levels.

Lastly, the presence of increasing amounts of dust in the air can also trigger poor air quality conditions. Those with underlying health conditions will want to monitor air quality readings if the skies seem dusty.

On the bright side, the dust in the air can also create stunning sunsets and sunrises this time of the year. The way dust scatters and filters sunlight produces the brilliant orange hue the sky sometimes takes on.

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