'Hazardous' Sahara dust blankets the Caribbean

Experts label event a 'Godzilla dust cloud' as air quality falls across most of the region

This satellite photo provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows a cloud of dust coming from the Sahara over to the Caribbean. NOAA via AP

A dust cloud from the Sahara sits over the city of San Juan, Puerto Rico. AFP

A view of an immense cloud of dust from the Sahara covering the municipality of Bayamon, from San Juan, Puerto Rico. EPA

A woman meditates during the hazy conditions in Puerto Rico. AFP

The Sahara dust cloud has not been this intense for 50 years. EPA

A vast cloud of Sahara dust is blanketing the city of San Juan, Puerto Rico. AFP

Dust particles are seen in Caracas, Venezuela. EPA

A vast cloud of Sahara dust is blanketing the city of San Juan, Puerto Rico. AFP

Many health specialists were concerned about those battling respiratory symptoms tied to Covid-19. AFP

“Conditions are dangerous in many Caribbean islands,” said Pablo Méndez Lázaro, an environmental health specialist with the University of Puerto Rico. AFP

The mass of extremely dry and dusty air known as the Saharan Air Layer forms over the Sahara and moves across the North Atlantic every three to five days from late spring to early autumn. EPA

A vast cloud of dust from the Sahara is blanketing the Caribbean as it heads to the US with a size and concentration that experts say has not been seen in half a century.

Air quality across most of the region fell to record “hazardous” levels and experts who nicknamed the event the “Godzilla dust cloud” warned people to stay indoors and use air filters if they have one.

“This is the most significant event in the past 50 years,” said Pablo Méndez Lázaro, an environmental health specialist with the University of Puerto Rico.

“Conditions are dangerous in many Caribbean islands.”

Many health specialists were concerned about those battling respiratory symptoms tied to Covid-19.

Mr Lázaro, who is working with Nasa to develop an alert system for the arrival of Sahara dust, said the concentration was so high in recent days that it could even have adverse effects on healthy people.

Extremely hazy conditions and limited visibility were reported from Antigua down to Trinidad & Tobago, with the event expected to last until late Tuesday.

Some people posted pictures of themselves on social media wearing double masks to ward off the coronarivus and the dust, while others joked that the Caribbean looked like it had received a yellow filter movie treatment.

José Alamo, a meteorologist with the US National Weather Service in San Juan, Puerto Rico, said the worst days for the US territory would be Monday and Tuesday as the plume travels toward the US southeast coast. The main international airport in San Juan said visibility was down to eight kilometres.

The mass of extremely dry and dusty air known as the Saharan Air Layer forms over the Sahara Desert and moves across the North Atlantic every three to five days from late spring to early autumn, peaking in late June to mid-August, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

It can occupy a roughly two-mile thick layer in the atmosphere, the agency said.

Mr Alamo said a small tropical wave headed to the Caribbean was expected to alleviate conditions by Thursday.