A Saharan dust cloud is headed for Georgia. Here’s what forecasters expect
The “Dirty South” is about to get even dirtier as a cloud of dust is expected to blow in from Africa, bringing the potential for itchy eyes but beautiful sunsets to be seen across Georgia and the rest of the southeastern U.S., forecasts show.
The Saharan Air Layer, a mixed mass of dust and dry, warm air formed over the Sahara Desert, could reach the Peach State by Saturday and last into early next week, according to a National Weather Service forecast map. The vast plume has already surged into the Caribbean Sea and will move into the Gulf of Mexico before turning northeast, officials say.
A giant dust cloud in the sky likely isn’t the summer forecast allergy sufferers were hoping for, as it can cause sneezing and itchy, watery eyes. The hazy conditions could also aggravate those suffering from asthma and other respiratory conditions, according to NASA.
However, the plume has its benefits. The dry air and warm temperatures coincide with the Atlantic hurricane season and have been shown to suppress the formation of cyclones and thunderstorms, McClatchy News reported, citing the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The Saharan Air Layer “can hinder tropical storm development and produce hazy skies and spectacular sunrises and sunsets (especially vivid reds) when it reaches your area,” according to meteorologist Kirk Mellish of WSB Radio in Atlanta.
“Sometimes a portion of the dust can be mixed down to earth by vertical air currents and of course rained out by showers and thunderstorms,” Mellish explained. “On the other hand if there’s enough dust, it can help inhibit the formation of thunder storms and increase sunshine.”
The Saharan plume, “which emerged off western Africa last weekend,” is expected to complete its 5,000 mile journey across the Atlantic and into parts of the U.S. this week, according to The Weather Channel. The dust cloud typically forms from late spring until early fall and is kicked up and carried westward “by bursts of strong winds and tropical waves located in the central and western Atlantic Ocean,” the outlet reported.
This particular dust storm is unlike any that’s been seen in the past several years because of its high dust concentrations, officials say.
“We’ve had a few outbreaks, but this one is significant based on size and how far west it is reaching,” Jason Dunion, a University of Miami meteorologist and NOAA research scientist, told the Palm Beach Post, adding: “This one lifted a lot of dust off the Sahara.”
Forecasts show the potential for dust in the U.S. could last through July 1.
This story was originally published June 23, 2020 at 5:44 PM with the headline "A Saharan dust cloud is headed for Georgia. Here’s what forecasters expect."