Sahara Dust Is Here: How Is It Affecting Our Weather? – NBC Miami

The Sahara Dust Is Here: How It’s Affecting Our WeatherThe Sahara Dust Is Here: How It’s Affecting Our Weather By NBC Miami The Sahara dust cloud has reached South Florida and other parts of the United States. The dust, which originates in the Sahara Desert, is carried by powerful winds across the Atlantic Ocean. The dust plume can affect our weather in several ways. It can: * Reduce visibility. The dust particles can block out sunlight, making it difficult to see. This can be a hazard for drivers and aircraft. * Increase air pollution. The dust can contain pollutants, such as particulate matter and bacteria. These pollutants can irritate the lungs and cause respiratory problems. * Suppress tropical storm formation. The dust can absorb solar radiation, which can prevent thunderstorms from developing. This can help to suppress tropical storm and hurricane formation. * Enhance sunsets and sunrises. The dust particles can scatter sunlight, creating beautiful sunsets and sunrises. The Sahara dust plume is expected to be over South Florida for the next few days. The dust will likely be most concentrated on Wednesday and Thursday. If you are sensitive to air pollution, you may want to take precautions to protect your health. These precautions include: * Staying indoors as much as possible. * Wearing an N95 mask when outdoors. * Using an air purifier in your home. You can also check the air quality forecast for your area before you go outside.

The Sahara Dust Is Here: How Is It Affecting Our Weather?NBC Miami