Because humidity — and ozone, tornadoes and mosquitoes loaded with West Nile virus — should never be the only things to worry about in the summer air in Texas, experts believe we’ll have sand particles from another continent to contend with sooner rather than later. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Saharan dust is “a layer of dust particles, typically sand and mineral particles, that originates from the Sahara Desert in Africa. These particles are lofted into the atmosphere, often by tropical waves, and can travel thousands of miles over the Atlantic Ocean.”
WFAA says that a whole bunch of those African desert grains are planning a trip to North Texas.
“In the week ahead, strong winds from the Sahara Desert will pick up its mineral dust and the jetstream will carry it more than 5000 miles west to the U.S.,” the Thursday report stated. “For North Texas, the best chance of noticing this plume of dust will be Tuesday, June 3, and possibly a stronger plume of dust by Friday, June 6.”
Saharan dust will reach North Texas during the first week of June. Here's the latest timing and what to expect. https://t.co/TDogoERO6z
— WFAA (@wfaa) May 29, 2025
What To Do About Saharan Dust
Although the Saharan dust can help make sunsets look pretty, it also has some health risks and other negative effects. WFAA also noted that, along with poorer air quality, the traveling layer of dust can wreak havoc on those with respiratory conditions such as asthma and various allergies. Medical experts recommend that people stay indoors as much as possible while the dust is in the air and seek medical advice if they experience difficulty breathing.
It doesn't seem as though the coming Saharan dust layer will be more intense than the one in June 2020 that was nicknamed ”Godzilla.” According to a Baylor University environmental science study, the dust from Godzilla “was observed as far north as Michigan and as far west as Texas and was especially intense in Puerto Rico and other parts of the Caribbean.”
