Saharan dust plume reaches the US, impacting air quality

In Louisiana, Saharan dust is a common phenomenon during hurricane season. This dust can impact both air quality and weather, and it can also pose potential health risks for sensitive individuals, says the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality.

The dust originated in the Sahara, AccuWeather said, where strong winds regularly blow dry air and dust westward from late spring through early fall. Much of the U.S. is also being impacted by wildfire smoke from neighboring Canada, which has already prompted numerous air-quality alerts in roughly a dozen states.