Dusty skies ahead: First Saharan dust plume for Central Texas arrives

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- It helps to create some picturesque sunrises and sunsets in our Central Texas sky. But it also can make breathing difficult for some people.

We are referring, of course, to the Sahara dust which will make its first appearance late this weekend or very early Monday. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is forecasting the first plume of this dust to arrive early Monday morning. It will come and go a few times between now and August.

Saharan dust is "aeolian" mineral dust from the Sahara desert. The desert is the largest hot desert in the world spanning over 3,474,919 square miles. It stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea and from the Mediterranean Sea to the Niger River valley and the Sudan region to the south.

How does it get here? First, hot and dry air rises from the surface of the desert carrying fine particles of dust from the desert's sand. The air, full of dust, heads to the highest part of the atmosphere where it gets caught up in the Trade Winds that blow east to west.

The Saharan Air Layer carries this fine dust across the Atlantic Ocean along the equator. The dust then gets caught up in the southerly flow allowing it to reach Central Texas.

It should not be confused with a dust storm or a sandstorm like they see in West Texas.

There are negatives to the dust particles but there are also positives. The Saharan dust has a positive impact on the ecosystem. Minerals in the dust are rich in iron and phosphorous. As a result, the dust acts as a fertilizer, assisting forests and other soils and vegetation to gain important nutrients.

It's been said that the dust also serves to lower the humidity. It steals moisture from the air. That may be a positive but it can also be a negative. You see, the lower humidity diminishes the chance for rain and THAT is not a positive.

Saharan dust can also affect any environment it moves into. When the dust moves in, it creates a cap in the atmosphere, so the humid air that typically rises for daily afternoon storms in the summer can't do that. The dust acts like a lid, and storms struggle to form. This is part of why we see more tropical storm development in the second half of August and September.

Tropical Storm Beryl, soon to be Hurricane Beryl, developed rapidly because its position is south of the current dust layer. Moisture is more available to its south allowing for the storm to strengthen.

But, by far, the greatest negative is what it does to our air quality. People who have breathing issues have a more difficult time with those issues during times of dust. The fine dust particles also lead to irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat.

What should you do, then, if you are adversely affected by the dust? The easiest solution is to stay indoors as much as possible. If you must be outdoors, wear a mask, similar to the one worn by many during COVID. A KN95 is probably the best. HEPA filters should be used to clean the air at home or in offices.

As aforementioned, times when the dust is hovering in the sky will often lead to some stellar sunrises and sunsets. That's where you come in. We always appreciate it when you send us your sun pictures, dust or not. If you see a pretty one that catches your eye, please send it to us at ReportIt@kxan.com.