Hazy skies and vibrant sunsets are in Florida’s future for at least the next week as African dust hovers over the state, potentially preventing some thunderstorms and keeping hurricanes away.
The dust, also known as Saharan dust, seen as a light fog, is created in the Sahara Desert in Africa in late spring and early summer and travels through strong winds to the Caribbean Sea, Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf Coast, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
When the dust blows over water, it creates dry air that stops storms from progressing. The African dust and storm development work against each other, with dust tampering tropical development and vice versa.