A dust plume that traveled nearly 6,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean from the Saharan desert is settling over Texas and Oklahoma today, and it’s arriving at the worst possible time as temperatures across the region soar into triple digits.
Dallas is sitting at 100 degrees this afternoon, with Austin close behind at 98, while Lubbock and Amarillo register 97 and 93 degrees respectively. Oklahoma City is at 95 degrees, and the heat extends further east with Little Rock at 93 and Baton Rouge at 93 degrees.
Unlike a ground-level haboob that kicks up blinding walls of dust, this plume is riding in the upper atmosphere, meaning residents won’t see a wall of dust rolling toward them. Instead, skies across the region will take on a milky, hazy appearance through the afternoon, with some areas showing a brownish or orange tint during the morning and evening hours.
Forecasters say the dust layer combined with the extreme heat creates conditions that could affect people with respiratory issues, including asthma sufferers, who may notice increased irritation over the next two days while the plume lingers overhead.
There is one striking upside to the phenomenon. As dust particles scatter incoming sunlight, sunsets across Dallas, Austin, Oklahoma City and surrounding communities are expected to intensify into vivid oranges, reds and purples tonight and possibly Wednesday evening as well.
Forecasters expect the dust to gradually disperse or shift east of the region within the next two days, though the extreme heat is likely to persist regardless of the dust’s movement.
Residents are encouraged to limit outdoor activity if sensitive to air quality changes, and photographers may want to have cameras ready for what could be one of the more dramatic sunsets of the summer.
