Hazy skies expected through Friday due to Saharan dust plume

PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties have both issued air quality advisories due to a Saharan dust plume over Florida.

“Right now a thick plume has kind of settled over the peninsula yesterday and it’s really settled in place today, so we are seeing those really hazy skies and yes, that can increase that air pollution,” said Max Defender 8 Meteorologist Amanda Holly.

“This is basically a large plume of super dry, very dusty air, that originates over the Sahara Desert in Africa. They fly with the wind and we call them dust plumes, and they take about two weeks to travel from Africa over the Atlantic Ocean to the coast of the United States,” said Dr. Yasin Elshorbany, Associate Professor of Atmospheric Chemistry and Climate with the University of South Florida.

The Saharan dust prompted multiple advisories on Wednesday.

“It’s based on our monitoring and what our staff sees, what our scientists at air quality Control see from the models and other sources that they use,” said Tony Fabrizio, Pinellas County Government Spokesperson.

Pinellas County officials said they expect to experience high moderate levels of PM2.5 with Air Quality Index (AQI) values from 51-100. There is a possibility of increased PM2.5 levels reaching the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups category with AQI values from 101-150, according to some date models. People sensitive to PM2.5 or with lung disease such as asthma, older adults, children and teenagers, and people who are active outdoors, should consider reducing prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion.

Experts with USF Health said the smaller dust particles can be inhaled and cause respiratory issues in sensitive groups.

“If it’s a small particle, it can be inhaled. So you know they can have a worsening cough, some wheezing. Shortness of breath, respiratory-like symptoms,” said Dr. Farnaz Tabatabaian, Associate Professor of Allergy & Immunology with USF Health.

“The most dangerous one is the smallest ones. Because those smallest particles can penetrate our respiratory system, causing infectious and non-infectious diseases,” said Dr. Yasin Elshorbany.

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