Dirty rain has hit South Florida. The Panhandle could be next. Here's the latest forecast

A huge plume of Saharan dust has moved over 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean, from the western coast of Africa, to Florida and the Gulf of Mexico.

The dust plume is partly responsible for the relatively quiet start to what is expected to be a "hyperactive" 2024 Atlantic hurricane season , but things could soon get dirty.

An incoming series of rainstorms brought about by an approaching tropical wave is expected to mix with the floating layer of dust , creating what some meteorologists are calling " dirty rain ."

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South Florida was the first to feel the effects of the impending Saharan dust plume , but its spread will reach Pensacola and other areas along the Panhandle Tuesday.

What is dirty rain, and how Pensacola be impacted? Here’s what we know.

What is Saharan Dust?

Saharan dust, also referred to as the Saharan Dust Layer (SAL), are outbreaks of dust from the Sahara Desert that have been kicked up about a mile into the air from topical waves in the Atlantic.

The layer of dust is about 2 to 2.5 miles thick, according to NOAA , and consists of warmth, dryness and strong winds that carry it westward over the Atlantic to North America. When plumes get large enough, it can impact the lower 48 states.

What is ‘dirty rain’?

Dirty rain isn’t really a technical term. It’s just a way to describe the effects Saharan dust will have on rain as it falls through the layer of dust hanging overhead. The ultimate effect will be dirty cars, streets and, well, that’s about it.

Dirty rain isn’t expected to be any more dangerous than what the Saharan dust brings, which is the potential for minor respiratory issues. Anyone with pre-existing respiratory issues should avoid spending heavy amounts of time outside and wear a face covering when they’re out and about.

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Is Saharan dust dangerous?

Reading the description, it could be easy to let the mind wander, picturing cities in the U.S. blanketed in a thick smog of dust, but its visible effects aren’t quite as dramatic. Given how high in the atmosphere the dust sits, it can create vibrant sunsets and sunrises due to the way it scatters sunlight. During the day, at most, the sky could have a hazy white appearance if there are large enough quantities.

Health-wise, there is usually little reason to worry as the SAL rarely carries all the way over to the U.S. When it does, its effects would be similar to any other type of dust. People who already experience underlying lung conditions are at increased risk of complications.

According to the American Lung Association , wheezing and coughing could be indications that you’re experiencing elevated levels of dust exposure. To protect yourself, you should stay indoors and wear a face covering if you have to go outside.

What does Saharan dust mean for Florida?

For Floridians, Saharan dust has helped quiet storm development in the Atlantic Ocean during the first half of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season.

More good news? It should drop slightly drop temperatures over the next week or so.

But while the temperature could cool, there will also be “dirty rain” for parts of Florida over the next day.

A tropical wave of showers and thunderstorms is expected to move northwest across the state through Tuesday. Because of the Saharan dust lingering nearby, the rain could leave a muddy residue behind.

And the dust isn’t expected to keep hurricanes at bay all season.

“The favorable conditions that yielded Beryl are likely to return at some point in August, and that will probably yield an extended burst of hurricane activity,” Dr. Ryan Truchelut, chief meteorologist at WeatherTiger, told TCPalm.

“WeatherTiger’s real-time forecast remains for around twice the amount of storm activity in a normal hurricane season.”

Will the Pensacola area see ‘dirty rain’?

According to MyFoxHurricane.com , Saharan dust plumes began impacting Tuesday but could move out of the area near the end of the week. That won't spell the end of the dust, however, as thick clouds continue to loom in the Atlantic, slowing making their way west.

On Tuesday, the Pensacola area is expected to see some rain showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon before clearing up slightly Tuesday night, according to the latest AccuWeather forecasts .

Wednesday and Thursday have high probabilities for rain before we get a brief reprieve on Friday. Wednesday will see a couple of showers and a thunderstorm later in the day. Showers and a heavy thunderstorm are expected late Thursday.

What is Florida's rain forecast this week? Rain chances increase

Many states southeast of the U.S. are expected to see at least 2 to for inches of rain this week, according to AccuWeather .

An approaching tropical wave is responsible for much of the precipitation. Florida may be spared from some of the worst rains, but a tropical wave of low pressure is increasing the chance for showers through Tuesday.

"As the tropical wave approaches and moves northwestward across the state from Sunday to Tuesday, an uptick in the showers and thunderstorms will occur with the potential for some to bring flooding downpours, strong wind gusts and even waterspouts near the beaches," said Alex DaSilva, AccuWeather lead hurricane expert.

At least 2 to 4 inches of rain will fall over much of the Southeast states through the end of this week, according to AccuWeather .  The rain is associated with air from the Gulf of Mexico and southwestern Atlantic moving over the Southeast.

Florida may be spared from some of the worst rains, but a tropical wave of low pressure is increasing the chance for showers through Tuesday.

The tropical wave is not expected to strengthen.

How does Saharan dust impact hurricanes?

Tropical development requires warm water and wind. Tropical disturbances tend to form in waters around the equator where ocean temperatures can reach the 80-degree minimum required to begin development. When wind moves over these warm bodies of water, it causes water to evaporate from the surface of the ocean.

That vapor then rises, cools and condenses into large water droplets, which create cumulonimbus clouds. When the warm vapor cools, the heat energy is dispersed at the top of the clouds, making the air pressure higher, which in turn pushes the lower air pressure down to the ocean’s surface to repeat the pattern.

The dry Saharan dust can curb these conditions a bit by stealing the moisture and disrupting the pattern.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Dirty rain has hit South Florida. The Panhandle could be next. Here's the latest forecast