North Texans should get ready for hazy skies this week, as Saharan dust descends on the Dallas-Fort Worth area.<\/p>\n
While the dust over North Texas doesn\u2019t bring a significant rise in Texas summer temperatures, the haze over the city could cause health risks.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would say most people will be unaffected,\u201d WFAA meteorologist Jesse Hawila told KERA’s NTX Now Monday. \u201cHowever, if you have respiratory issues, the elderly, folks that have a hard, especially a hard time with the additional heat, too. I mean, it’s hot and humid, so that can put extra stress.\u201d<\/p>\n
Meterologists don’t anticipate a large dust storm moving through the area \u2014 what’s known as a haboob. But while most of the dust is thousands of feet in the air, tiny particles from the haze falling from the atmosphere can cause aggravation to the lungs, sneezing and other allergy-like symptoms.<\/p>\n
“We already have enough allergy issues in North Texas as it is,” Hawila told hosts Ron Corning and Miranda Suarez. “This is not a fun time for those that suffer.\u201d<\/p>\n
High-risk individuals should limit time outdoors till the haze passes.<\/p>\n
Typically every summer Saharan dust<\/a> reaches Texas after crossing the Atlantic ocean and traveling 5,000 miles from Africa. The states consistently impacted include Florida and Texas<\/a>. Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama are also frequently affected<\/a>.<\/p>\n A storm swept across the majority of the South early last June<\/a>. It brought hazy skies, reduced air quality and surprisingly vibrant sunsets due to air pollution.<\/p>\n As Saharan dust remains high in the atmosphere, it\u2019s common for airline travel to be affected<\/a>. Pilots can experience reduced visibility, decreased local air quality, and alterations to flight paths to navigate around the dense hazy air.<\/p>\n Severe travel delays and even flight cancellations are common during extreme conditions.<\/p>\n Conditions are monitored by the FAA via ATC who manages air traffic in the air and on the ground.<\/p>\n Officials from both Dallas Love Field and DFW airports, say operations are normal at this time. Both airports say they will continue to monitor reports.<\/p>\n “Based on the reports and data compiled by the airport\u2019s Operations teams,” said Lauren Rounds with the Department of Aviation for the City of Dallas, “the dust levels are above the airport and will not drop low enough to cause any issues.”<\/p>\n