Meteorologists have warned Florida to prepare for “dirty rain” as a plume of Saharan dust is expected to blow across the state this weekend.
Thunderstorms are expected in the Sunshine State on Saturday and Sunday. These thunderstorms will mix with the dust particles and leave a film on anything the droplets touch.
While the contaminated fallout and plume are generally harmless, experts advise people with respiratory problems to wear a face mask when outdoors.
The enormous plume was formed by strong winds that swept small sand and mineral particles from the Sahara’s surface. The current wave is the largest of the season.
Meteorologists have warned Florida to prepare for ‘dirty rain’ as a plume of Saharan dust is set to engulf the state this weekend
Britta Merwin, a meteorologist with FOX Weather, said: ‘You have this creepy layer of nasty stuff on your car; you think, it’s not pollen, it’s dust.
“Watch out for the dust that collects. And if it gets on your (air conditioner), it can clog it, so (it’s a) good idea to hose down your units.”
Every summer, winds carry large amounts of desert dust particles from the hot, dry North African desert westward across the Atlantic Ocean.
Large amounts of dust particles from the African desert are swept low into the dry air by thunderstorms and strong winds.
The dust can then remain suspended for days or weeks, depending on how dry, fast and turbulent the air masses become.
The dust plume from the Sahara has traveled more than 4,000 miles from Africa over the past month and passed over central Florida on Wednesday.
However, the dust is expected to linger into the weekend, when thunderstorms are expected.
According to FOX Weather, the combination of rain and dust will leave “mud stains on surfaces.”
Saharan dust reached the east coast of Florida earlier this month, enhancing sunrises and sunsets by scattering more light across the sky.
While the dust cloud may be annoying for Americans, it is a good sign during hurricane season.
According to the National Hurricane Center, active tropical waves are coming off the African coast, but the dust particles absorb sunlight and act as air stabilizers to reduce tropical waves, preventing cyclones from forming.
Every summer, winds carry large amounts of desert dust particles from the hot, dry North African desert westward across the Atlantic Ocean
Thunderstorms are forecast for the Sunshine State on Saturday and Sunday, which will mix with the dust particles and leave a film on anything the droplets touch.
This year is expected to be one of the most active on record, with 24 named storms, 11 of which will develop into hurricanes.
The Sahara dust forms each spring over the African desert and reaches 1.5 to 5 kilometers above the Earth’s surface and is thousands of kilometers long.
Outbreaks typically occur every three to five days, peaking in mid-June to mid-August, often creating colorful, hazy sunsets along the Florida coast, characterized by their yellow and red hues.
As the dust travels toward the U.S., a layer of dry air forms thousands of feet above sea level. This brings drier air and warmer conditions, suppressing tropical developments such as hurricanes by removing the moisture they need to form.
They also create strong winds in the upper parts of the dust cloud, which can reach speeds of up to 60 miles per hour and can tear away the cloud tops of tropical hurricanes.
The 2020 plume was the largest ever recorded and was dubbed “Godzilla.” Data showed the plume was between 60 and 70 percent dustier than average, making it the dustiest event since records began about 20 years ago.
The 2020 plume was the largest ever measured and was dubbed “Godzilla.”
Records show it was 60 to 70 percent dustier than average, making it the dustiest event since records began 20 years ago.
While the tiny particles can trigger air quality alerts and irritate people with respiratory problems, the dust can also enhance sunsets, suppress the development of tropical storms and play an important role in our ecosystem.
The dust is an important source of nutrients for phytoplankton – microscopic marine plants that float on or near the ocean’s surface.
Some of the minerals from the dust end up in the ocean, causing a bloom of phytoplankton on the sea surface. This phytoplankton in turn serves as food for other marine life.
The dust is also essential to life in the Amazon, as it replenishes the nutrients in the rainforest soil that would otherwise be depleted by frequent rainfall.