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A dust storm the size of 48 US states is about to hit the east coast of the country this week

Home> News> US News

Updated 18:42 6 Jun 2025 GMT+1Published 18:39 6 Jun 2025 GMT+1

A dust storm the size of 48 US states is about to hit the east coast of the country this week

That's an awful lot of dust

Joe Harker

Joe Harker

A huge dust cloud from the Sahara Desert is heading towards the US coast and has already started affecting parts of Florida.

According to the Lansing State Journal, this giant storm of dust has moved over the Atlantic Ocean and was picked up by satellite imagery that could see it moving from space.

It's now moving over parts of the east coast of the US and much of the south coast, with an expectation that it would reach Florida first and then move over the American southeast.

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Alex DaSilva, lead hurricane expert for AccuWeather, said: "This is the biggest Saharan dust plume that we've seen so far this year. It is very common to see large plumes of Saharan dust coming across the Atlantic toward the United States in June and July.

"Many people will notice more colourful sunrises and sunsets, and a milky or hazy look in the sky."

This giant cloud of dust is actually something called a haboob (stop laughing), a specific type of dust storm which takes form when a thunderstorm collapses.

Florida is the first spot this dust storm hit (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Florida is the first spot this dust storm hit (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

What is a haboob?

IFL Science explains that between May and October thunderstorms in the Sahara Desert kick up dust into the atmosphere, which then forms these giant storm clouds which can carry that dust across oceans to another continent.

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Hurricane scientist Jason Dunion told NPR that this latest one was a 'grand-scale haboob' and the moving phenomenon of desert dust and dry air was roughly the size of the 'lower 48 states'.

The haboob travelled around 4,000 miles to make it across an ocean and now it's been spotted in Florida.

He also explained that it won't be the last one to show up and another one would be released 'about every three to five days'.

The huge dust cloud is produced by a thunderstorm and known as a haboob (STR/AFP via Getty Images)
The huge dust cloud is produced by a thunderstorm and known as a haboob (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

How does the dust storm cross an ocean?

It turns out that the dust storm is stable enough to hold together while traversing a significant chunk of the planet.

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Dunion explained: "The dry air that's about a mile above our heads stays just about as dry from Africa to the Caribbean, all the way to a place like Florida."

The sands of the Sahara Desert have travelled a long way (ZedamNabil Photography/Getty Images)
The sands of the Sahara Desert have travelled a long way (ZedamNabil Photography/Getty Images)

What can people expect?

Looking up to the sky will reveal that answer in the form of a redder view which is actually the dust affecting sunlight in its own way to create a 'really spectacular' view of the sunset.

As for health hazards, Dunion suggested those with asthma might be feeling it a bit more in affected areas.

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He said: "I always recommend folks check with their local experts. But with that dust, folks who have asthma, the elderly, can be a little bit more prone when we have these dust outbreaks come through."

Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Image

Topics: US News, Weather, Science

Joe Harker
Joe Harker

Joe graduated from the University of Salford with a degree in Journalism and worked for Reach before joining the LADbible Group. When not writing he enjoys the nerdier things in life like painting wargaming miniatures and chatting with other nerds on the internet. He's also spent a few years coaching fencing. Contact him via [email protected]

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@MrJoeHarker

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