Users' questions

Where is dust from Sahara now?

Where is dust from Sahara now?

A new large Saharan dust cloud is has moved out of Africa and into the Atlantic Ocean. It is currently heading towards the Caribbean, before landing over the southeastern United States early next week. Strong thunderstorms and convective systems over Africa can create massive dust storms.

Is South Africa Dusty?

The study suggests that South Africa has few major natural dust sources and it appears that the dust is largely caused by the human response to drought conditions. The western Free State is primarily home to rain-fed maize agriculture and relies on summer rainfall.

Is there dust coming from Africa?

The Saharan Air Layer is a mass of very dry, dusty air that forms over the Sahara Desert during late spring, summer, and early autumn. It moves over the tropical North Atlantic every three to five days, with some events reaching very high volumes of dust.

How far does the Sahara dust travel?

It sounds ominous, right? However, it’s a weather phenomenon that happens every year around this time. In the late spring and through the summer, plumes of dust from the Saharan Desert 5,000-miles away travel across the Atlantic, spanning into the Caribbean and as far as the Gulf of Mexico.

Where is dust storm coming from?

What causes a dust storm? Dust storms are caused by very strong winds — often produced by thunderstorms. In dry regions, the winds can pull dust from the ground up into the air, creating a dust storm. An area’s geography and plant life can also make it more likely to have dust storms.

Can African dust make you sick?

“Once inhaled, this dust can irritate a person’s airways and cause respiratory issues — especially if that person suffers from an underlying airway or bronchial disease, such as asthma or COPD,” explains Dr. Tim Connolly, pulmonologist at Houston Methodist.

Is African dust still in Houston?

Did you know nutrient-rich dust travels more than 5,000 miles across the Atlantic ocean from the Saharan Desert every year? HOUSTON — Saharan dust has landed in Texas, again!