As typical in June, the first big plume of Saharan Dust is taking over the Caribbean. Let’s see how this could affect the region and tropical formation this week.

June is usually a dusty month! Dust from the Saharan desert in Africa travels thousands of miles and takes over parts or much of the Caribbean. These are very fine particles suspended in the middle to upper levels of the atmosphere that bring two big instant troubles – respiratory issues for sensitive groups and extra toasty temperatures. In the long term, dust aids the development of the red tide.

Saharan dust is not all bad. It suppresses tropical storm activity by basically shocking any system that tries to form underneath it. This is especially true if their mass is extensive and deep. Usually, a deeper concentration of dust makes it to the eastern and central Caribbean and diffuses as it travels westward.

This week there are deep concentrations of dust over the eastern and central Caribbean, so if you are in the Lesser Antilles through the Hispaniola and you have respiratory issues, make sure to limit your time indoors, which will want to do also because of the hotter than normal temperatures.

We are monitoring a tropical wave just ahead, to the west of this deep concentration of dust. It will continue to travel west-northwestward and could reach the Gulf of Mexico by the end of the week where it has a chance to develop within the next 7 days. It doesn't have a chance in the short term because of the nearby dust. We will continue to monitor.