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The largest dust columns from the Sahara this year began to cover Florida and the Gulf Coast this Wednesday, with effects that will last until next week, as warned meteorologist Matt Devitt.
"The Saharan dust is here. The largest plumes of the year are arriving today in Florida and the Gulf Coast and will continue through next week," wrote Devitt.
The phenomenon did not arrive without prior warning. Last Monday, Devitt had already mentioned that several large columns of Saharan dust would be moving over Florida and the Gulf within a 10-day period, reminding everyone that July is typically the peak of the Saharan dust season for the United States.
Devitt also warned about air quality: dust can create unhealthy conditions in areas where concentrations are higher, particularly affecting individuals with asthma, chronic bronchitis, or allergies.
According to meteorologist Irene Sans from the Florida Public Radio Emergency Network (FPREN), this could be the first significant episode of Saharan dust of the season for Florida, as previous layers had not been dense enough to cause substantial changes in the weather.
The dust began affecting the southern part of the state on Wednesday and reached Central Florida on Thursday, with foggy conditions expected for the northeast region of the state on Thursday and Friday.
The most immediate impact for residents will be the extreme heat combined with humidity.
With the presence of dust, temperatures could reach between 95°F and 99°F (35°C and 37°C), with a heat index of up to 110°F (43°C).
The chances of rain will drop to just 20-30%, which alleviates the relief typically brought by evening storms.
The FPREN summarized the situation clearly: "Get ready for the dust... and it seems there will be several waves in the coming days. Less rain. Much more heat. Respiratory issues."
The Saharan dust travels within the so-called Saharan Air Layer (SAL), situated between 0.5 and 3.5 miles above the surface, covering more than 8,000 kilometers from the African desert to the Caribbean and the southern United States.
Not all news is bad. The phenomenon has a significant positive effect: it suppresses the development of hurricanes in the Atlantic by introducing dry, dusty air that weakens or inhibits the formation of tropical storms.
In addition, it produces sunrises and sunsets in especially vivid colors and transports phosphorus and other nutrients that fertilize the Amazon rainforest.
On the Gulf Coast of Florida, however, the same nutrients that enrich the Amazon can fuel algal blooms and red tide when they wash into the ocean.
The current episode is not the only one anticipated. A second wave of dust, described as denser, is expected to reach the Texas coast between Tuesday and Wednesday of next week, indicating that the phenomenon will continue for several more days across the Gulf region.
For historical reference, in July 2024, conditions were between 60% and 70% dustier than usual, with a cloud estimated to be the size of the contiguous 48 states of the United States, one of the largest saharan dust events ever recorded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
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