Dust season is about to be upon us as sunny, hot weather continues

Space City Weather
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Originally published at: Dust season is about to be upon us as sunny, hot weather continues – Space City Weather

In brief: In today’s post we discuss our ongoing sunny and hot weather. Not much changes on that score for about a week. However, we are likely to see our first serious incursions of Saharan dust early next week.

Saharan dust

We are nearing the point of summer during which we begin see large plumes of dust, lifted from the Saharan Desert, transported across the Atlantic Ocean. This occurs most prominently in July, but can also happen in June or August. The atmospheric dust has myriad effects, including diminishing the potential for tropical storms and hurricanes to form. This is one reason why we expect the Atlantic tropics to remain quiet for awhile.

We also sometimes see incursions of dust into the Gulf, and onshore into Texas. Some of our modeling indicates the Houston region will experience the first of these plumes beginning Sunday or Monday. This is nothing to fear. It may somewhat increase unhealthy air levels for people sensitive to air quality. But mostly it will just make our skies look different, with the dust helping to produce spectacular sunsets.

Additionally this dust is beneficial to our soils, so it’s not a particularly bad things to experience. It’s also a reminder that this entire planet, big though it may be, is interconnected. When you inhale these tiny dust particles (chances are you won’t realize you’re doing it), understand they have flown as many as 8,000 miles across the ocean to reach your nose.

Thursday and Friday

The forecast remains the same with high pressure still holding sway. Our high temperatures within the city of Houston will generally be in the low- to mid-90s, with slightly cooler daytime conditions in Galveston and other coastal areas. Skies will be sunny. Afternoons will be a bit gusty, with winds from the south. Nights remain warm and muggy, with lows generally in the upper 70s. This is typical weather for late June.

Saturday and Sunday

There really will be no change in the pattern for this weekend. Plan your outdoor activities with confidence (and sunscreen).

Next week

The first couple of days next week should bring a continuation of this pattern, but by mid-week high pressure should be easing away and this may open us up to seabreeze showers. Think daily rain chances on the order of 20 to 30 percent, primarily during the afternoon. It’s a little too early to have confidence in the Fourth of July forecast, but at this point some showers are possible. We shall see!

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It has always amazed me how far the wind can carry things like fine dirt and sand particles. That is why major volcanic eruptions can literally alter the Earth’s climate by temporarily blocking and reducing the sunlight across the whole globe, cooling the global temperature down. For example, look up “1816 The Year Without Summer”.

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The one good thing about this dry high pressure system is that the humidity has dropped some and the past couple of mornings have been cooler in the mid 70s instead of the low 80s like before. The afternoon dew points have also dropped and yesterday the max heat index only reached 100 in my area. It’s sad when a heat index of 100 feels like a relief but that’s where we are now.

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Why does Saharan dust inhibit tropical cyclone formation?

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Because the dust layer dries the air out, choking the vertical development of organized storm systems. There can also be strong windshear attached to the dust plume which also tears apart the circulation of storms that try to develop.

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I could go for a year without summer. That sounds awesome.

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Every year I hear about the Saharan plume I think of the Comic Peanuts. I love the Character Pig-Pen! As a Gardener my wife is always getting on me about what a mess I am when I come in the house after working outside in the garden. I quip off some of Pig-Pen’s quotes such as “dust of ancient civilizations” or the “dust of countless ages.” ,“Who am I to disturb history?” when dirt and grit fall off my shoes after I tried to knock the dirt off outside but she can follow my “trail” Into the house. I say to her that Charlie Brown described my dirt as potentially including soil trodden upon by figures like Solomon, Nebuchadnezzar, or Genghis Khan. Consider the historical significance of this!

With a not amused look.. Husbands you know the “look” she points to the shower and as I trod off to the shower to wash off the some of the same dust that King Tut trod on and Sing “King Tut” in the shower. When I get out I am presented with a Broom and dustpan and she says something if your Highness would be so kind as to take your royal dust back outside to your palace. I break out into “walk like an egyptian” and she just rolls her eyes at me!! :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

I take the Ancient dust and put it in my Indoor Mini Compost bin and she stops giving me the side eye! :rofl: :rofl:

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The Chemical Brothers know…In Dust We Trust

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@lee I think I could too down here.

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Imagine flying 8,000 miles just to get immediately sneezed out by me

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Then potentially inhaled by someone else. What a life…

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There’s also some light smoke aloft originating from the Cottonwood Fire in Utah. This smoke is being forced up and over the clockwise flow of a heat ridge centered over West Texas / New Mexico, straight into SE Texas. Fortunately this isn’t affecting air quality as the smoke is suspended aloft around 18,000-23,000 feet, but it’s contributing to the milky gray skies. A little bit of this smoke will linger on Friday and possibly into Saturday. But then we have a thick Saharan dust plume arriving Sunday night or Monday to keep the milky gray skies going through at least next Tuesday :skull:

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Something you’ll only hear us southerners say. :rofl::joy:

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Looks like rain chances are creeping up a little for next week starting Wednesday, from 20-30% to 30-50%.

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I had noticed the sky looking a bit hazy the past few days. I was wondering where it was coming from thank you.

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