Dust haze affecting the island

large plume of Saharan dust in the eastern Atlantic is currently affecting the island, the Barbados Meteorological Services (BMS) said Thursday as it issued a dust haze advisory for the island Thursday.

The BMS said skies will appear slightly yellowish during the day and a reduction in visibility due to dust haze is expected over land and marine areas from as early as Friday.

“Analysis indicates that dust concentrations are likely to increase over the weekend. A plume of thick dust haze is forecast with visibility to reduce to less than 10 km over the land and coastal waters of Barbados during this haze event, the advisory said.
The forecasters advised persons with respiratory issues or allergies to travel with, or have close at hand, all prescribed relevant medications in case of an emergency. They also urge marine users to stay close to shore, particularly if GPS is not in use on vessels.

The public is encouraged to monitor the BMS, DEM and GIS websites and their respective social media pages along with the local media networks for further updates. Additionally, advice provided by the Ministry of Health and Wellness should be followed.