The dust approaches: when to wear your goggles
Well, it just keeps getting more interesting.
2020 has proven to be a year for the history books in more ways than one, and for those of you wondering what was next in the pandora’s box we’ve apparently opened, look no further than a Saharan dust storm crossing the Atlantic now.
In Columbus, be prepared for the dust to hit around noon on Saturday and not let up until around 5 p.m. on Monday, according to a report from NBC4.
The “plume” known as the Saharan Air Layer is a weather event that occurs every year off the coast of Africa. This year, a particularly large plume of dust has continued its way westward, sweeping across islands throughout the Caribbean, and is projected to make landfall within the United States this weekend in Texas.
One upside of the event is the dry air pulled in with the dust neutralizes risks of hurricanes, which require hot and humid environments to form. Images taken from satellites have shown the massive size of the dust storm as it makes its way across the Atlantic.
An updated #GOESEast look at the Saharan dust plume moving over the Caribbean on Sunday. pic.twitter.com/NpHScxF3Av
— NWS Eastern Region (@NWSEastern) June 21, 2020
One additional effect of the dust storm is the effect it has on the sky. Because of the high altitude of much of the dust it changes the blue skies to brown, and creates incredibly dramatic sunsets and sunrises.
BREAKING – Massive Saharan dust cloud blankets the Caribbean, heads toward the United States now.#SaharanDust over San Juan, Puerto Rico, today:pic.twitter.com/YI5t9l71Vm
— Disclose.tv 🚨 (@disclosetv) June 22, 2020
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Currently status on the #SaharanDust in Jamaica! 🌬💨😯 pic.twitter.com/LwBba5IWqM
— The World Up Closer (@theworldcloser) June 23, 2020
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