Saharan dust heads towards the US, what does that mean for hurricane season?

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Desert sand and dust from Eastern Africa are making their way across the Atlantic Ocean and could reach the U.S. within the next few days.

While this Saharan dust may lead to hazy skies and worsen air quality, it could also help put the brakes on hurricane formation this season.

I spoke with Professor Michael Morgan from the University of Wisconsin–Madison to learn more about how Saharan dust influences tropical storm development.

“Saharan dust, that can often put on the brakes to the development of these storms, it's sort of mixed in terms of what the influence is going to be,” Morgan explained. “The dust can absorb lots of radiation, so it can heat up the atmosphere above the above the ocean, which can stabilize effects, but also might be indicative of much drier air that's in the environment of these developing tropical cyclones, which can also be somewhat of a break. So, when we have large periods of significant dust over the Atlantic. I think that's typically a situation where there is some suppression in the development of tropical storms. So, we have to wait and see how that evolves, if that pattern persists."

While Saharan dust may act as a temporary roadblock for hurricanes, it also raises air quality concerns.

Right now, the dust is moving through the Virgin Islands and into the Gulf of Mexico. States like Florida are already experiencing hazy skies—especially noticeable at sunset. Depending on how winds shift, that dust could drift up the East Coast as well.

"It's a testament of what happens across other parts of the globe, like West Africa, can certainly have an influence along the east coast," Morgan added. 

Even though sand and dust may slow hurricane development for now, other factors can easily accelerate the season again.