Hazy Skies Possible As Saharan Dust Arrives In Georgia

GEORGIA — Skies over Georgia could take on an unusual hue this weekend as a mass of dusty air from the Sahara Desert makes its way stateside after a 5,000-mile trek across the Atlantic Ocean.

The dusty air, called the Saharan Air Layer, made landfall in Georgia on Friday and is most visible during sunrises and sunsets, WSB reporter Mark McKay points out in a dusty aerial photo he shared on Twitter on Friday morning.

In a report published Friday, NASA scientists said that by Tuesday and Wednesday, the plume had made its way from Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula all the way up to southern parts of Texas. It's now visible in several places along the Gulf Coast.

What's in the sky above Georgia is dry, dusty air from the Sahara Desert. The Saharan Air Layer is a common phenomenon in the African continent, according to NOAA's Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory.

The layer of dusty air occurs during the late spring, summer and early fall in the desert and can extend up to 2.5 miles above the ground.

It's not uncommon for the Saharan Air Layer to make its way to North America every three to five days during warmer months, according to NOAA.

Citing research from the University of Puerto Rico, ABC 11 in North Carolina reports the current plume is unusual because it has the highest concentration of sand particles seen in 50 to 60 years.

But Instagrammable sunsets and hazy skies aren't the only outcome of the dust plume's arrival. It comes with both positive and negative impacts for Georgians.

Because the air coming from the Sahara is both warm and dry, it can help decrease tropical disturbances such as storms and cyclones in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico.

The Saharan Air Layer can also help "stabilize the atmosphere" and slow the formation of clouds, according to NOAA.

While the plume could help ensure good weather, it can also be an irritant to those with allergies or breathing issues, WSB-TV reports. Anyone who is at risk of adverse health effects caused by the dust should limit his or her time outside through the weekend.