Saharan dust and shifting weather in Caribbean and Central-A

A mass of Saharan dust has moved across the Caribbean and Central America, impacting air quality and weather patterns.

In Guatemala, authorities issued warnings for vulnerable populations to wear masks and limit outdoor exposure due to potential respiratory risks. Medical specialists in the Dominican Republic noted that while the dust causes reduced visibility and orange skies, the actual health threat depends on the concentration of particulate matter at ground level.

In the Dominican Republic, the presence of Saharan dust has been linked to low humidity and limited cloud development, contributing to high temperatures. The Dominican Institute of Meteorology (Indomet) previously projected maximum temperatures between 34°C and 36°C. Recent reports indicate that extreme heat and a “suffocating thermal sensation” persisted through Saturday.

Weather patterns are shifting due to the influence of a tropical wave and an upper-level tropospheric trough, expected to trigger locally strong showers, thunderstorms, and wind gusts, particularly in provinces such as Hato Mayor, Monte Plata, Duarte, Azua, San Juan, Elías Piña, Dajabón, Santiago Rodríguez, and Monte Cristi.

To enhance monitoring, Empresa Minera Dominicana (EMIDOM) and Indomet have signed an agreement to install three automatic meteorological stations in Pedernales within the Reserva Fiscal Minera Ávila. These stations will monitor temperature, precipitation, and wind to strengthen early warning systems and support the National Meteorological Data Bank (BANDAMET).

In Costa Rica, tropical wave number 40 is causing instability and heavy rainfall, specifically along the Caribbean coast and in Limón. The Instituto Meteorológico Nacional (IMN) is also monitoring tropical wave number 41, which may impact the region early in the week.