PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. – A wave of Saharan dust from northern Africa was moving over South Florida Saturday and heading northwest. A heat advisory was to remain in effect on Sunday.
The advantages: The plume from the Saharan Desert disrupts storm development in the Atlantic and its haze enhances the oranges and copper tones in the sky during sunrises and sunsets.
The disadvantages: It impacts the air quality and local heat index. The dust particles in the air also threatened to produce a dirty film with rain and affect the filters of air conditioners.
Saturday was the 20th day Miami-Dade County was under a heat advisory. The high humidity was certain to send the heat index up to 108 degrees in some areas Saturday afternoon.
The chance of showers increases on Sunday when a tropical wave approaches South Florida. The dust is likely to keep the tropics calm even through some of August.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the dry Saharan air layer affects people with underlying lung conditions and chronic cardiopulmonary diseases.
The dust outbreaks subside after mid-August. The hurricane season ends in mid-October. For more details about the Local 10 News Weather Authority meteorologists’ forecast, visit this page.
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