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A massive Saharan dust plume is heading to the U.S. Here’s what you should know

The plume will travel 5,000 miles from Africa to the U.S.

By Herb Scribner Herb Scribnerhscribner@deseretnews.com
SHARE A massive Saharan dust plume is heading to the U.S. Here’s what you should know
Cars drive in a cloud of red dust in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020. Flights leaving Tenerife have been affected after storms of red sand from Africa’s Saharan desert hit the Canary Islands.

Cars drive in a cloud of red dust in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020. Flights leaving Tenerife have been affected after storms of red sand from Africa’s Saharan desert hit the Canary Islands.

AP

A massive Saharan dust plume is heading to the United States from the Caribbean, completing a 5,000-mile journey from Africa to the United States.

What’s happening:

  • A plume of dust is traveling from the Sahara desert after surging within the Caribbean Sea.
  • Forecasts suggest the plume will travel 5,000 miles to the U.S. Gulf Coast.
  • The plume has become the thickest in its history as it travels over the Caribbean, according to Weather.com. The plume begins to form in late spring through fall, moving over the Atlantic Ocean.

How it could impact you:

  • The plume creates “spectacular sunrises and sunsets,” according to Weather.com.
  • National Weather Service said: “The plume of Saharan dust is expected to move over the Southeastern US next week. The dust will be primarily at higher altitudes, so the main impact will be some especially colorful sunrises sunsets.”
  • When it develops and travels this far, it often complicates cyclone development in the sea.
  • CNN said: “Sometimes particles can make their way to the surface, greatly affecting those with sensitive allergies. If you find yourself reaching for a tissue this week — or your iPhone to post yet another awesome sunset pic to Instagram — thank the Saharan dust.”

What it looks like:

  • The photo below shows the difference in how the sky looked when the dust blume reached St. Barthelemy in the Caribbean.

Another photo, which you can see below, shows how the dust plume travel across the planet.