How will large Saharan dust plume impact Florida's hurricane season?

A huge plume of Saharan dust coming out of the western coast of Africa could be a welcome sign in what is expected to be one of the most active hurricane seasons in recent history.

On its own, this natural event isn’t necessarily noteworthy ? it’s something that happens every year, usually around late June and early July.

This particular event is the largest plume we’ve seen since the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season kicked off on June 1, according to Michael Lowry, a meteorologist with South Florida ABC affiliate Channel 10.

When Hollywood is involved in thick, ominous clouds of dust it's typically a bad sign, but nature is rarely as obviously foreboding.

Hurricane season 2024: Saharan dust restricting tropical development but it won't last

The Saharan Air Layer (SAL), as dubbed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, consists of dust particles from Africa's Sahara Desert kicked up miles into the atmosphere.

When this happens, the dry dust partially nullifies some of the conditions conducive to topical development by stealing the rising vapors that would otherwise disperse the heat energy needed for storms to develop.

Here’s what to know about Saharan dust and how it could otherwise impact Florida.

What is Saharan Dust?

Saharan dust, also referred to as the Saharan Dust Layer (SAL), are outbreaks of dust from the Sahara Desert that have been kicked up about a mile into the air from topical waves in the Atlantic.

The layer of dust is about 2 to 2.5 miles thick, according to NOAA, and consists of warmth, dryness and strong winds that carry it westward over the Atlantic to North America. When plumes get large enough, it can impact the lower 48 states.

Is Saharan dust dangerous?

Reading the description, it could be easy to let the mind wander, picturing cities in the U.S. blanketed in a thick smog of dust, but its visible effects aren’t quite as dramatic. Given how high in the atmosphere the dust sits, it can create vibrant sunsets and sunrises due to the way it scatters sunlight. During the day, at most, the sky could have a hazy white appearance if there are large enough quantities.

Healthwise, there is usually little reason to worry as the SAL rarely carries all the way over to the U.S. When it does, it’s effects would be similar to any other type of dust. People who already experience underlying lung conditions are at increased risk of complications.

According to the American Lung Association, wheezing and coughing could be indications that you’re experiencing elevated levels of dust exposure. To protect yourself, you should stay indoors and wear a face covering if you have to go outside.

Are we seeing more Saharan dust?

Over the years, you might have noticed an increase in the mention of buzzwords in weather-related stories — Saharan dust being one of them. There are a couple of reasons for this.

The technology meteorologists use to monitor weather has gotten better and helped strengthen their understanding of how it impacts people and their environment. As severe weather continues to increase in both volume and intensity, it’s important to make readers aware and keep them informed about potential risks.

Saharan dust, in particular, reached peak public mindshare in 2020 when an historic Saharan dust storm made its way across the Atlantic while the COVID-19 pandemic already posed a serious threat. According to The Atlantic, the storm contained 182 million tons of dust.

How does Saharan dust impact hurricanes?

Tropical development requires warm water and wind. Tropical disturbances tend to form in waters around the equator where ocean temperatures can reach the 80-degree minimum required to begin developing. When wind moves over these warm bodies of water, it causes water to evaporate from the surface of the ocean.

That vapor then rises, cools and condenses into large water droplets, which create cumulonimbus clouds. When the warm vapor cools, the heat energy is dispersed at the top of the clouds, making the air pressure higher, which in turn pushes the lower air pressure down to the ocean’s surface to repeat the pattern.

The dry Saharan dust can curb these conditions a bit by stealing the moisture and disrupting the pattern.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Saharan dust will give Florida a brief pause on hurricane season