Don’t pack those facemasks away just yet, a large dust cloud from the Sahara is about to sweep across America, irritating eyes and lungs.
The Saharan dust storms will regularly drift across the Atlantic and across the Americas. A complex system of pressures and winds pushes the clouds thousands of miles. After gathering over the Gulf of Mexico, they will often move up into Florida and Key West.
The dust clouds can cause irritation to the lungs and eyes. The tiny particles, that have travelled across from the African desert, will stay in the air for a few days. This will cause a drop in air quality for the time being. But, eventually, the dusty sand particles will move on or dissipate.
New Tech Tracks Saharan Dust Storm
Dusty conditions like this will hit these areas of the US almost every year. But with new technology, we are now able to track it much more closely. Matt Devitt of WINK Weather has shared footage of the moving dust clouds from the Sahara.
As of Wednesday, they can be seen to have reached the Caribbean Sea. They are now moving up, over the Gulf of Mexico, and into the south of the US. The new footage and technology simply allow people to know when to expect the changes in air quality.
Most people won’t need to worry about the dusty air conditions from across the ocean. Only people with respiratory issues will have to be slightly more cautious. In fact, there are some rather nice benefits to the Saharan dust storm.
Due to the lowered humidity and airborne dust, there will be some beautiful, glowing sunsets and sunrises. The orange hue in the sky will make everything shine like gold. It makes a nice change from the apocalyptic, smoke-filled skies the US has been accustomed to over the last year.
Compared to the dust storms that seriously dry areas get, this will be nothing to write home about. The small particles in the air will lower the quality, but only some will have negative effects. If you’re suffering from lung issues, then maybe mask up if you’re in its path.