Saharan dust cloud to affect southeastern United States by Friday

The large dust cloud that traveled from the Saharan desert and blanketed parts of the Caribbean is on its way to the southeastern United States. 

The Saharan dust cloud has decreased visibility and reduced air quality throughout the Caribbean. The mass of dusty air is known as the Saharan Air Layer forms over the Sahara desert before typically moving across the North Atlantic in the northern hemisphere’s late spring to early autumn.

“This is the most significant event in the past 50 years. Conditions are dangerous in many Caribbean islands,” said Pablo Méndez Lázaro, from the University of Puerto Rico’s School of Public Health.

Air Quality warnings are currently in effect from Barbados to Jamaica. It is expected to spread over the southeastern United States by late this week.