- Jul 2, 2003
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He said the Saharan dust plume "is an annual event that occurs each late spring to early fall.
Particulate matter of this dust cloud contains more silica, and is a hazard to those with underlying lung conditions.
But even normal healthy people are subject to irritant effects.
Sahara desert dust storm will move into US Thursday
"The Saharan dust will overtake entire states." The historic Saharan dust plume will move into the US on Thursday.
abc7.com
"The Saharan dust will overtake entire states," CNN meteorologist Tyler Mauldin says. "Even southern Illinois and Ohio may get into the mix. That's how far north it could get pulled up."
An area of higher pressure over the Southeast will allow the Saharan dust layer to move into much of the Gulf Coast region over the next couple of days.
The dust was so thick in Puerto Rico and across the Caribbean, it darkened the skies and reduced visibility to only a few miles.
Although it isn't uncommon for the Trade Winds to carry dust from the Sahara to the Gulf Coast, this plume has caught the attention of a few meteorologists.
"According to scientists that I have gotten some information from, they're saying this is an abnormally large dust cloud," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist and lead hurricane expert Dan Kottlowski told AccuWeather's Jonathan Petramala. "One of the things I noticed from this is the dust started coming off the coast of Africa several days ago, in fact maybe over a week ago. And it's still coming. It's almost like a prolonged area of dust."