Saharan Dust Cloud Brings Heat and Storms to Florida

Dust from the Sahara Desert, known as the Saharan Air Layer, is expected to reach Florida this weekend, bringing hot and dry weather to the Tampa Bay area. The layer of dry air, formed by dust plumes blowing across the Atlantic Ocean, can affect weather patterns far away. While it may cause warmer and drier conditions, it is not expected to significantly impact visibility. However, it could irritate people with respiratory issues. The dust layer may also delay tropical storms and create beautiful atmospheric optical effects such as halos around the sun.