By Chris Dolce From Wunderground

Dust from the Sahara Desert spread into Texas on Saturday after traveling more than 5,000 miles from Africa across the Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico.

Visible satellite imagery from Saturday presented a clear view of the dust plume lofted above coastal Texas and the adjacent western Gulf of Mexico. You can see this in the milky or hazy area labeled on the left side of the satellite image.

Residents of coastal Texas reported the dust brought hazy skies to the region on Saturday.

The dust made for vivid sunrises and sunsets, as well.

Saharan dust tracks as far west as the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico multiple times each year.

Known as the Saharan air layer (SAL), this dry, dusty air mass pushes westward off Africa into the tropical Atlantic Ocean about every three to five days from late spring through early fall.

You can see how this particular area of Saharan dust moved from the Caribbean to Texas June 26-30, 2018.

The SAL is typically located 5,000 to 20,000 feet above Earth’s surface and is transported westward by bursts of strong winds that are located in the central and western Atlantic at altitudes between 6,500 and 14,500 feet.

The dust particles can contribute to hazy skies and rather photogenic sunrises and sunsets in the Caribbean islands and near the Gulf Coast. Sometimes the dust can squelch thunderstorm chances for a particular day.

Dry air from the SAL can also stunt the development of tropical storms by creating sinking air (downdrafts) around the system, which can result in weakening. Strong winds associated with the SAL can also lead to an increase in vertical wind shear, hindering tropical development.

NASA says the dust can also lead to the creation of toxic algal blooms in the Gulf of Mexico

IMAGES:

The black box in this computer model animation highlights how the dust (yellow and green shadings) traveled from the Caribbean to Texas. (NASA GEOS Model Total Aerosol Optical Thickness)

Comparison of the sky in Victoria, Texas, on Wednesday and Saturday. (Weather Underground)