From Texas Public Radio:
A huge cloud of Saharan dust has been working it’s way towards Texas.
The dust from the African continent has slowly made it’s way over the Caribbean, and will impact Gulf Coast states, including Texas.
“We expect it to infringe upon the Gulf of Mexico and the Gulf coastal states most likely mid to late week this week,” meteorologist Ethan Williams with the Austin/San Antonio National Weather Service told Texas Public Radio.
It’s possible the dust in the air could irritate those with conditions such as asthma and other breathing problems
Williams said the dust can affect the environment in other ways, too.
“Usually, when it makes its way across, it’s a much drier air mass, there’s a lot of sand and dust … [and] debris elevated in the atmosphere, and that drier air mass puts a damper on any tropical development and rain chances,” he said.
One positive aspect of the Saharan dust moving into the area, Williams said: “It actually makes some really pretty sunsets.”
