Huge Saharan dust cloud is coming for North Carolina. Here’s what to expect and when
A huge cloud of dust could be heading toward North Carolina, bringing the potential for hazy skies and allergy flare-ups this weekend, forecasters say.
The Saharan Air Layer is expected to reach the state Saturday as it moves in from the west, according to a forecast map from the National Weather Service’s Eastern Region. The graphic shows the potential for dust through at least June 30.
As early as Saturday, potential impacts in North Carolina “include hazy conditions and gray skies along with reduced visibility,” WNCN reported. The plume also can make for intense sunrises and sunsets, according to the National Weather Service.
But all that dust has the potential to irritate the sinuses, McClatchy News reported. Experts encourage allergy sufferers to stay inside until the dust passes, WOAI reported.
The Saharan dust started its journey in Africa, crossing the Atlantic Ocean before blanketing the eastern Caribbean on Monday, according to officials. The plume is expected to move into the Gulf of Mexico and then turn northeast, toward the Carolinas, forecasters say.
Plumes move from Africa each year, but “this particular dust event is unique because of its thickness over the Caribbean Sea,” The Weather Channel reported. It packs some of the highest dust concentrations in recent decades, Olga Mayol of the Institute for Tropical Ecosystem Studies at the University of Puerto Rico told the outlet.
The dust usually moves during the warmer months, which coincides with the Atlantic hurricane season, officials say. The dry air, temperature and winds from the Saharan Air Layer work together to help stop hurricane development, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
This story was originally published June 23, 2020 at 10:53 AM with the headline "Huge Saharan dust cloud is coming for North Carolina. Here’s what to expect and when."
