Weather Tidbits: Saharan Dust

This edition of Weather Tidbits will discuss how Saharan dust impacts tropical cyclone development in the Atlantic. Saharan dust refers to the dust and sand that blows off of the Saharan desert in Africa into the Atlantic via the trade winds. When Saharan dust blows into the Atlantic, it creates an environment that inhibits tropical cyclone development. Tropical cyclones need an environment with an abundance of moisture and warm ocean temperatures above 80 degrees to mature. The Saharan dust creates a dry environment across the tropical Atlantic.

Additionally, if thick enough, the dust can block sunlight and be reflected into the atmosphere. This can result in cooler ocean temperatures, which further creates an unfavorable environment for tropical cyclone development. The intrusion of Saharan dust is most common during the first few months of the Atlantic hurricane season, usually from June through mid-August. Afterward, coverage of dust usually decreases. The Atlantic hurricane season lasts from June through November.