Dense Sahara shroud ‘to last another week’

Barbadians should expect the Saharan dust currently affecting the island to be here for at least another week.

That is according to the Barbados Meteorological Services (BMS), which has forecasted the plume of Saharan Dust to be present until at least next Friday.

In fact, meteorologist Andrew Daniel is warning that within the next few days the dust haze could get thicker.

“Today the dust was pretty thick and tonight we expect the dust to get even thicker, so there will be significantly reduced visibility. People with respiratory problems and sinus problems could be affected.

“We are also advising fisherman, especially if they do not have GPS in use, that since visibility will be reduced we are advising them to stay close to the shore,” Daniel said.

“We expect this dust haze to be thick for the next couple of days. According to the models, the dust is expected to be slightly less by Tuesday and Wednesday, but it will still be moderate. So for the next week or so we expect some haze.”

Daniel also explained that the presence of the Saharan dust would lead to drier conditions.

“The haze would make it hard for cloud development and for precipitation because along with the haze is actually drier conditions such as Saharan air.

“You know the Saharan is pretty dry because it is a desert. It’s not only the haze that is coming across, some of the air is coming across as well and that air is going to be dry and it prevents cloud development and precipitation,” he noted.

Daniel said while the island was expecting a Tropical Wave tomorrow around midday, from Saturday until Tuesday the island was forecasted to experience dry and hazy conditions.

He said the presence of Saharan dust was something that occurred annually around the hurricane season.

Daniel pointed out that once tropical waves started coming across the Atlantic Ocean, the dust also came.

“The wind flow that helps bring the waves into our region also helps bring the dust,” he noted.
randybennett@barbadostoday.bb