Health and emergency officials are urging Jamaicans and South Florida residents to take precautions as a thick plume of Saharan dust moves across the Atlantic and heads for the Caribbean and southern United States.
In Jamaica, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) has warned that the seasonal dust, which typically arrives around this time each year, can aggravate respiratory conditions and trigger allergic reactions. People with asthma, chronic lung issues, or other respiratory illnesses are advised to stay indoors when possible, wear N95 or KN95 masks outdoors, and keep medications on hand. The agency also recommends using HEPA filters indoors, monitoring air quality reports, and taking extra care with children, the elderly, and others considered vulnerable.
“Children, the elderly, and individuals with pre-existing respiratory conditions are to take extra precautions,” the agency said.
Meanwhile, meteorologists say the same dust plume will begin affecting South Florida by Saturday morning. Forecast models show the haze arriving in Key Biscayne before spreading across the southern half of the state and intensifying through next Thursday.
The dust, which forms as strong winds lift sand and dirt off the Sahara Desert, can travel over 5,000 miles across the Atlantic. It typically peaks between June and mid-August and hovers several thousand feet in the atmosphere. While it can worsen breathing issues, it also tends to suppress tropical storm formation due to the dry air it carries.
According to the experts at Weather Underground, Saharan dust acts as a shield, which keeps sunlight from reaching the surface, thus keeping sea surface temperatures up to 1°C cooler than average in the hurricane channel from the coast of Africa to the Caribbean, giving potential hurricanes less energy to form and grow.
Health experts in both regions have warned that the dust can cause itchy eyes, coughing, and difficulty breathing, particularly for people with asthma or other pulmonary conditions. Pets may also be affected.
Authorities continue to monitor the dust’s movement and are encouraging residents to stay informed via local weather and health bulletins.
