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Cuba is set to experience the most intense wave of Saharan dust recorded so far in the 2026 season this Saturday, according to meteorologist Rubén Capote, who described the event as "the highest concentration of Saharan dust we have seen so far this season."
The phenomenon affects the entire island from east to west, with this Saturday identified as the "worst moment for Cuba." On Sunday, July 12, the dust core will move towards Florida and the Yucatán Peninsula, although the western half of the country will continue to be under its influence.
The meteorologist Vladimir Leon from the Meteorología_Cuba page confirmed that the cloud is spreading across the entire national territory and cautioned about the density of the phenomenon: "The first chart corresponds to the surface concentration and is very dense. The second and third charts correspond to an altitude between 1 and 3 km where dust concentrations are higher and denser."
The weather maps published by Leon show values of up to 800 and 1,500 µg/m³ (micrograms per cubic meter), both at the surface and at altitudes between one and three kilometers, where the concentration is even higher.
The impact on precipitation is also notable: the presence of dust reduces rainfall to very isolated showers in parts of the south, from Matanzas to Sancti Spíritus, while rainfall remains scarce in the rest of the country.
Leon made a special appeal to the public: "Logically, we must protect ourselves, especially those who suffer from respiratory conditions and those who work outdoors or engage in other activities."
The most vulnerable groups include people with asthma, chronic bronchitis, or allergies, as well as children under four years old, adults over 65, and pregnant women.
Recommended measures include wearing a mask, avoiding prolonged outdoor activities, keeping doors and windows closed, staying hydrated frequently, and cleaning the eyes and nasal passages with fresh water.
This episode will not be the last of the week. Leon warned that "there could be another invasion of this dust in the remainder of the week," which keeps the Cuban population on alert beyond the weekend.
The event is part of a season that has already been active. On June 3rd, INSMET meteorologist Raydel Ruisanchez warned of the first significant wave of the season, which mainly affected the eastern region of Cuba.
Only on July 9, the largest dust columns of the year arrived in Florida, as warned by meteorologist Matt Devitt. Now, two days later, Cuba is experiencing what experts describe as the highest concentration peak observed in 2026.
Saharan dust travels within the so-called Saharan Air Layer, situated between 0.5 and 3.5 miles above the surface, covering more than 8,000 kilometers from the African desert, driven by trade winds.
The peak activity season in the Caribbean spans from mid-June to mid-August, with Cuba being one of the first territories to experience each wave due to its geographical location.
The phenomenon also has a documented positive effect: it suppresses the formation of hurricanes in the Atlantic by introducing dry air that weakens tropical storms, and transports nutrients that fertilize the Amazon rainforest.
However, the peaks of bronchial asthma in Cuba during the summer are closely linked to this phenomenon since at least 2018, turning each intense episode into a real health alert for thousands of Cubans.
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