El Salvador braces for rainstorms and Sahara dust in early August

El Salvador's Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MARN) warned that on Wednesday, 5 August, the country will experience rain and thunderstorms driven by a tropical wave and an accelerated east‑flow. The forecast calls for clear skies in the morning, followed by increasing cloud cover and heavy rain in the western and northern mountain zones, with wind gusts possibly exceeding 45 km/h. Temperatures are expected to reach up to 36 °C in the eastern department of La Unión. Authorities urged residents to stay updated on weather alerts and take precautions against intense storms.

Starting Thursday, 6 August, MARN also projected high concentrations of Sahara dust across El Salvador, with levels between 50 and 120 µg/m³, posing a high health risk. The dust is expected to remain at medium levels on Friday and rise again over the weekend. The ministry advised the public—especially older adults, children, pregnant women, and people with respiratory or cardiac conditions—to limit outdoor exposure, avoid prolonged physical activity, and follow health recommendations to mitigate the impact of the airborne particles.