Saharan dust cloud moving across Atlantic may reach Gulf Coast next week

A massive cloud of dust from the Sahara desert is swirling across the Atlantic Ocean and may reach the Gulf of Mexico next week, which forecasters say may bring the potential for some spectacular skies.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said that the plume was first captured on June 7, blowing west off the African continent over the Atlantic.

According to NOAA, very dry and dusty air known as the Saharan Air Layer (SAL) forms over the Sahara Desert during the late spring, summer and early fall, which then moves over the tropical Atlantic.

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SAL activity usually "ramps up" and peaks from late June to mid-August, with individual outbreaks reaching as far west as Florida and even Texas.

Some of these dust clouds can cover vast areas of the Atlantic, areas sometimes as large as the lower 48 United States, according to NOAA.

The National Weather Service (NWS) office in Houston said that the most recent large cloud that has moved off of Africa is doing just that, and will move into the Caribbean by Sunday and Southeast Texas by next Tuesday.

Jason Dunion, a University of Miami meteorologist and research scientist with NOAA’s Hurricane Research Division, told the Palm Beach Post that the dust cloud making its way across the Atlantic is "significant" based on its size and how far west it may go.

"This one lifted a lot of dust off the Sahara," he told the paper.

Satellite imagery on Monday showed the SAL streaming off the coast of Africa.

The NWS office in San Juan, Puerto Rico noted that Saharan Dust is bringing dry air by Thursday to the island, before more dry air arrives by Sunday with the larger dust cloud.

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If the dust cloud makes it to the Gulf of Mexico by Tuesday, forecasters said residents will be gifted with colorful sunsets.

"If this dust reaches the area we should expect some red skies at sunrise and sunset for a few days and probably drier weather as well," the NWS Houston said.

Besides dry conditions and better sunsets, the dust clouds can also affect tropical cyclones and tropical disturbances now that hurricane season has started.

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According to NOAA, the dry, dusty air has about 50 percent less moisture than the typical tropical atmosphere.

"This extremely dry air can weaken a tropical cyclone or tropical disturbance by promoting downdrafts around the storm," the agency states.

Strong winds in the SAL also increase wind shear in and around storm environment, while the warmth from the dust clouds stabilizes the atmosphere, suppressing the formation of clouds.

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"This stabilizing effect is produced when the Saharan Air Layer’s warm, buoyant air rides above relatively cooler, denser air," according to NOAA. "The Saharan Air Layer’s suspended mineral dust also absorbs sunlight, which helps maintain its warmth as it crosses the Atlantic Ocean."

There are as many as 13 to 19 named storms predicted during the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to Nov. 30, forecasters from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center (CPC) said last month.

Six to 10 of those could develop into hurricanes, with winds of 74 mph or more, and three to six could even become major hurricanes, capable of inflicting devastating damage.

This forecast is well above the averages of 12 named tropical storms, six hurricanes, and three major hurricanes during the season.

The 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30, and will include the names: Arthur, Bertha, Cristobal, Dolly, Edouard, Fay, Gonzalo, Hanna, Isaias, Josephine, Kyle, Laura, Marco, Nana, Omar, Paulette, Rene, Sally, Teddy, Vicky and Wilfred.