Hazy Cloud of Saharan Dust Nearing U.S.

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Hazy Cloud of Saharan Dust Nearing U.S.

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MIAMI (AP) - An enormous, hazy cloud of dust from the Sahara Desert

is blowing toward the southern United States, but meteorologists do

not expect much effect beyond colorful sunsets.

The leading edge of the cloud - nearly the size of the continental

United States - should move across Florida sometime from Monday

through Wednesday.

``This is not going to be a tremendous event, but it will be kind of

interesting,'' said Jim Lushine, a severe weather expert with the

National Weather Service in Miami.

He said the dust could make sunrises and sunsets spectacular.

It might not have much effect on the rest of the country, said

, a meteorologist with the weather service in Melbourne.

``Maybe south Texas or Mexico if that dust cloud keeps moving

westward, but nothing north of Florida, unless a weather system can

dive southward and pull that air northward,'' he said.

Such dust clouds are not uncommon, especially at this time of year.

They start when weather patterns called tropical waves pick up dust

from the desert in North Africa, carry it a couple of miles into the

atmosphere and drift westward.

If the dust is concentrated enough, it could create some problems

for people with respiratory problems, said Ken Larson, a natural

resource specialist with the Broward County Environmental Protection

Department.

``If somebody is subject to a respiratory condition, if they see

hazy skies, they might want to take a little more precaution, not

participate in strenuous activity and stay indoors,'' Larson said.

07/23/05 14:59