A massive dust cloud from the Sahara Desert that has swept through the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean the past couple days is now starting to spread across Florida.
Saharan dust, the very dry, dusty air that forms over the Sahara Desert and moves over the tropical North Atlantic, can potentially affect an area’s air quality, help curb tropical cyclones and also provide some unique sunrise and sunset views.
The dust won’t have much impact in the state Wednesday, June 4 because of lingering tropical moisture, but drier air from the dust should reduce rainfall in South Florida by Thursday, according to The Weather Channel.
Here’s what else to know about the Saharan dust coming through Florida this week.
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Saharan dust forecast tracker
When will the Saharan dust hit Florida?
“We’re currently seeing a massive plume of dust moving east through the Caribbean,” said Alex DaSilva, AccuWeather lead hurricane expert, said in an email Monday afternoon.
“It’s about 2,000 miles wide from east to west, stretching from Jamaica all the way past Barbados. North to south, it’s about 750 miles, spanning from Trinidad and Tobago in the south to north of Puerto Rico.
“That gives you a sense of the scale; it’s essentially a wall of dust. While it’s not uncommon for dust to cross the Atlantic, this is one of the larger plumes we’ve seen so far this season. It’s not necessarily unusual, but definitely on the stronger side.”
“We expect it to arrive in the U.S. late in the week. Florida could see enhanced sunsets as early as Thursday, and the dust could spread into parts of the northern Gulf Coast — places like Houston, New Orleans, and Baton Rouge — by Friday into Saturday,” DaSilva said.
“While it’s not rare for this dust to travel across the Atlantic and affect the southern U.S., it usually only happens a couple of times a year. This appears to be the largest plume we’ve seen in 2025 so far.”
“It’s an expansive plume, something that is typical for this time of year,” said Fox Weather meteorologist Bob Van Dillen said via email Monday.
“It doesn’t look as deep of a layer as the models had predicted last week, but it’s still should be enough for Floridians to notice a haze in the air. Sunrises and sets should feature more of a darker red hue as well, stating Wednesday and peaking Friday/Saturday. The heaviest concentration of dust looks like Central Florida at this point. This will be the biggest push of Saharan dust into Florida so far this year.”
What can the Daytona Beach area expect from the Saharan dust this week?
Since most of the dust typically is high in the atmosphere, “it rarely causes significant air quality issues for breathing,” DaSilva said. “If the dust is really thick, it can impact surface air quality, but that’s uncommon.”
The air quality in Daytona Beach is currently ‘good.’ Residents can also expect thunderstorms and rain showers through Friday, June 13, according to AccuWeather.
“The Saharan dust is expected to roll in mid week, becoming noticeable Tuesday or Wednesday. It’ll probably linger over us for a few days, possible into the weekend,” said Robert Haley, meteorologist with the National Weather Service Melbourne in a phone interview Monday afternoon.
“Interestingly, rain showers are expected (this week) as well. When that happens, the dust can get caught in raindrops and settle on the ground. Once it dries, it might leave a residue — brown dust on cars.”
What is Saharan dust?
Known officially as the Saharan Air Layer, Saharan dust is dry, dusty air that forms over the Sahara Desert in northern Africa, according to the National Weather Service.
As it moves off the west coast of Africa, it can travel across the North Atlantic, reaching Florida and the United States.
The Saharan Air Layer can be 2 to 2.5 miles thick, starting about one mile above the surface.
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When does Saharan Air Layer normally occur?
The Saharan Air Layer forms over the Sahara Desert during late spring, summer, and early fall, moving over the tropical North Atlantic every three to five days, the National Weather Service said.
Activity usually ramps up in mid-June, peaks from late June to mid-August, and begins to rapidly subside after mid-August.
“During the peak period, individual Saharan Air Layer outbreaks reach farther to the west — as far west as Florida, Central America and even Texas — and cover vast areas of the Atlantic.”
How does Saharan dust affect tropical storms and hurricanes?
Three factors associated with Saharan dust help prevent tropical cyclones from developing and, with storms already present, inhibit strengthening:
Saharan dust brings vivid sunrises, sunsets
While Saharan dust can make the sky look hazy it can bring some stunning sunrises and sunsets.
Where there is a lot of dust — or smoke — in the atmosphere, sunrises and sunsets can appear even more yellow, orange and red than normal, according to the National Weather Service.
“A heavy load of dust in the atmosphere can enhance … leads to longer-lasting, duskier colors that cause vivid sunsets and sunrises.”
Air quality from Saharan dust could pose respiratory problems for some
“Saharan dust lowers air quality by increasing the concentration of mineral dust, things like silica and quartz,” Dr. Samuel Gurevich, a pulmonologist with Cleveland Clinic in Florida said in an email.
“These tiny particles can travel deep into the lungs and cause significant inflammation.”
The dust also tends to make the air drier, which can further irritate airways, Gurevich said. This might mean a runny nose or itchy eyes.
“But, for people with respiratory conditions, it can cause more serious symptoms or flare ups,” he said.
How is the air quality in the Daytona Beach area? How can you check local conditions?
The Daytona Beach area is currently experiencing ‘good’ air quality.
What are air quality alerts?
Air quality alerts are indicators the air is unsafe to breathe for certain people. Alerts are triggered by a number of factors, including the detection of fine-particle pollution, which can irritate the lungs.
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What’s next?
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This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Where is the massive Saharan dust cloud now? How it will affect Daytona Beach
Reporting by Ashley Ferrer, Cheryl McCloud and Kim Luciani, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
