Saharan Dust Cloud Heads Toward Texas, Affecting Air Quality and Hurricane Activity

A large Saharan dust cloud is moving across the Atlantic and is expected to reach Texas by Sunday. The dust is expected to peak in concentration on Monday and Tuesday, affecting major cities and potentially causing reduced air quality. The dust cloud may also suppress hurricane development in the Atlantic.

A massive cloud of Saharan dust has developed, stretching across nearly the entire Atlantic Basin from the Cape Verde Islands off of the coast of Senegal in West Africa, all the way to the eastern Caribbean islands of Hispaniola, Puerto Rico and Aruba.

Within this plume, the highest concentration of dust particles is over the eastern Caribbean. Because trade winds are moving from the east-southeast, this wind direction is expected to push the dust cloud straight into the Gulf of Mexico and eventually into Texas.

Texas already encountered a plume of Saharan dust earlier this month, but the incoming cloud will likely be larger and become more widespread across the state. Here’s a look at exactly when we can expect the dust to arrive across the Lone Star State.

When will Saharan dust leave Texas? Graphic shows when it will hit

A light layer of Saharan dust is expected to drift along the Texas Gulf Coast by Sunday, bringing hazy skies, reduced air quality, and vivid sunsets to parts of South and East Texas.

The dust concentration is expected to peak on Monday and Tuesday, spreading inland as far north as the Dallas-Fort Worth area. It will be especially noticeable in San Antonio, Austin, Corpus Christi, and Houston, according to the San Antonio Express-News.

Saharan dust events are common between June and August, and this one is expected to be slightly more intense than the one earlier this month. People with respiratory conditions may feel discomfort as air quality declines.

Along the coast, the dust will likely enhance sunsets, creating vivid orange hues as particles scatter sunlight near the horizon. Elsewhere in the state, the dust layer may not be dense enough to noticeably dim the sun.

What is Saharan dust?

This refers to the dust carried by winds across the Atlantic from the Sahara Desert. Thunderstorms in the Sahara region stir up dust and push it into the atmosphere. The dust is then transported across the Atlantic and deposited in the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. While it primarily affects Puerto Rico, it can also reach states such as Florida and Texas.

According to the CDC, Saharan dust transported to the United States is a normal occurrence, especially from late June to mid-August.

Air quality index map: See current conditions

You might expect colorful sunrises and sunsets, hazy afternoon skies, poor air quality, and sometimes allergy symptoms.

Although dust concentrations are not particularly high at the moment, they will still have some impact as they reach urban areas. Saharan dust will also inhibit thunderstorm development and increase daytime temperatures by keeping the skies dry and trapping heat close to the ground.

Is Saharan dust dangerous?

According to the CDC, Saharan dust can be harmful as air quality becomes poor. As particulate matter and concentration in the air increase, this can be harmful when inhaled, entering the lungs and bloodstream and affecting individuals with allergies, respiratory complications and asthma.

Large particles from Sahara dust can also cause skin and eye irritation, the CDC said. It is recommended to stay inside as much as possible and avoid outdoor activities.

Among potential symptoms are:

• Allergy problems.
• Skin and eye irritation.
• Sore throat.
• Respiratory issues.

How does Saharan dust impact tropical activity?

While Saharan dust can create hazy skies and lower air quality along the Gulf Coast, it also plays a key role in shaping tropical weather, often helping to suppress storm development.

That’s part of the reason the Atlantic has been relatively quiet this hurricane season, with just one named storm so far. Tropical Storm Andrea formed earlier this week over the open Atlantic but quickly dissipated without posing a threat to land.

Meanwhile, the Pacific hurricane season is about a month ahead of schedule and has already seen five named storms, including two hurricanes.

Alex DaSilva, hurricane expert for AccuWeather, previously told USA TODAY that Saharan dust can act as a natural deterrent to tropical storm development.

"It basically can choke off these systems because, again, they want plenty of moisture, and when you’re taking the moisture away, it makes it harder for thunderstorms to develop," DaSilva previously told USA TODAY.

In addition to drying out the atmosphere, the dust also increases wind shear and atmospheric stability — two other key factors that can hinder storm formation.

Although Saharan dust was crossing the Atlantic during the intensification of Hurricane Beryl, the storm was able to strengthen because it developed ahead of the densest plume of dust. This placed it in a pocket of relatively moist, unstable air — the kind of environment tropical systems need to grow.