Saharan dust heading for Florida: Here’s what to know

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A huge plume of dust drifting across the Atlantic from the coast of Africa is heading for Florida.

This can mean gorgeous sunsets or hazy skies for us on land, plus the added benefit of tamping down tropical development.

What is Saharan dust?

The Saharan Air Layer, commonly referred to as Saharan dust, results from ripples in the atmosphere that loft large amounts of sand and dust from the vast African desert into the air, according to NOAA . The blanket of dry air and strong winds travels thousands of miles across the Atlantic, creating a less favorable environment for tropical cyclones to form.

That’s good news for us as the projected “ very active ” hurricane season gets underway.

Saharan dust is common this time of year. The plumes typically begin in mid-June and run through mid-August, peaking somewhere in the middle. According to NOAA, the plumes of dust seem to rapidly subside after mid-August, which is also when we begin to see an uptick in tropical activity.

What does it mean for hurricane season?

The dust plume blocks sunlight from reaching the ocean below, which is already reaching record-high temperatures .

“It blocks sunlight because of how thick it is when it’s traveling 3,000 miles across the Atlantic,” WFLA meteorologist Amanda Holly said. “If the plumes can stay as thick as they are right now, it literally blocks the sunlight and prevents the sunshine from warming up those waters more.”

Additionally, the dry air also robs potential systems of the moisture they need to develop.

“This limits the environment’s potential for those tropical systems to come together and organize,” Holly said.

Will we see ‘Saharan dust sunsets’?

Thin layers of Saharan dust interact with sunlight to create breathtaking sunrises and sunsets. However, thicker plumes can partially block out the light.

“If the dust can stay on the thinner side – which I think it will, especially as it starts to enter Friday into Saturday night and then possibly gets a little bit thicker,” Holly said. “If it can stay thin, it gives us some really pretty sunrises and sunsets where we get these nice pinks and reds in the sky.”

Thicker plumes of dust can lead to hazy skies or even a layer of dust as it falls to the surface.

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