A dust storm originating from the Sahara desert has moved across the Caribbean and is expected to infiltrate the United States soon.
Claire Ryder from the University of Reading told CNN that this type of dust volume is unusual.
Dust clouds the skies over the Caribbean islands.
‘Usually by the time dust from the Sahara has traveled this far, much of it has been dispersed and/or deposited to the ocean so that typically this long-range transport to the Americas would involve much lower concentrations,’ Ryder said.
Ryder explained that the initial dust episode that occurred over the past weekend was driven by a few different smaller storm systems over central and west Africa.
These thunderstorms then caused downdrafts and large-scale haboobs (dust storms) to develop, which led to a large amount of dust being uplifted into the atmosphere from the Sahara.
‘It’s certainly the most intense, large-scale dust event I have ever seen,’ she added.
Aerosol scattering values reached the highest levels since observations began in Puerto Rico more than two decades ago, reports The Washington Post.
The storm’s aerosol optical depth values reached a reading of 1.8, a significantly high reading as any value above 1.5 reduces the direct sunlight reaching the earth’s surface to almost 20%.
The dust plume settled over Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Hispaniola, and eastern Cuba on Tuesday, June 23 and continued to thicken. The dust is forecast to continue moving and hit the southern US Thursday, June 26, reports CNN.
The Barbados Meteorological Services issued a Severe Dust Haze Warning, urging residents and especially those with underlying respiratory issues to take caution.
This is super-interesting to me. We are in the middle of a huge dust storm here in Puerto Rico. The dust has traveled nearly 6,000 miles across the sea from the Sahara. pic.twitter.com/xbLUWcVxNA
— Jeff Hardy (@jeffreyjhardy) June 22, 2020
A dust plume from the Sahara Desert has traveled across the Atlantic and is darkening skies in the Caribbean. One model predicts it will reach the Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic US. https://t.co/ul5mWQMOxZ pic.twitter.com/qGc8rsyfiS
— CNN (@CNN) June 24, 2020
This is what the Sahara dust storm looks like in Rincón Puerto Rico. Color picture! Sunset included for reference pic.twitter.com/XoYO7tBAZf
— Paul Norton (@PaulNor34527394) June 22, 2020
The usual view of Portmore, St Catherine from Burnside Hill in St Andrew is now clouded by dust from the Sahara Desert. The once-yearly dust storm is expected to pass Jamaica by the weekend – Bryan Laing Jnr photos #SaharanDust pic.twitter.com/8CUgdnIsgn
— Jamaica Gleaner (@JamaicaGleaner) June 22, 2020
Dust storm from the Sahara all the way to Puerto Rico pic.twitter.com/4ohm4xRAkp
— Big Country (@jthegreengiant) June 23, 2020
@Twitter Sahara Dust Storm is heading for NC. The greatest impact should be Sat. June 27. Consider shutting off your A/C unit for a few minutes when it’s heaviest over your home. pic.twitter.com/Iun1qn7AbE
— Doug (@callraleighair) June 24, 2020
Image credit: Twitter/IslandGirlPRV
