Dust blowing off the Sahara Desert. The Department of Disaster Management (DDM) has alerted that the [British] Virgin Islands (VI) is experiencing another surge of the Sahara Dust and that this surge is higher than the average. Photo: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration

The Saharan Air Layer, also known as Saharan Dust, is made of sand, dirt, and other dust that is lifted into the atmosphere from the vast desert area that covers most of North Africa. This dust is carried in the African Waves which push westward into the Atlantic Ocean. Photo: myfoxhurricane.com

“Based on AQI (Air Quality Index) today’s reading is moderate to high,” DDM stated today, November 20, 2023.

DDM has asked that persons affected take precautionary measures. “We are asking persons who mostly engage in outdoor activities to be very careful.”

The quality index for today is 50 to 70 and has been classified as an Alert Level II.

Who is most at risk?

People most likely to experience health problems caused by exposure to Saharan dust include children and babies; older adults, and people with underlying lung conditions.

Individuals with seasonal allergies may encounter symptoms such as runny nose, sore throat and itchy eyes.

Persons with respiratory conditions such asthma should also be cautions while outdoors as the dust can impact breathing negatively.

What is Saharan Dust?

The Saharan Air Layer, also known as Saharan Dust, is made of sand, dirt, and other dust that is lifted into the atmosphere from the vast desert area that covers most of North Africa. This dust is carried in the African Waves which push westward into the Atlantic Ocean.

The Saharan Air Layer is a well-mixed dry pocket of air that usually resides between 5,000 and 15,000 feet above sea level. Since one of the key ingredients for tropical cyclone development is a deep feed of moisture, Saharan Dust often acts to inhibit tropical development.