A massive plum of Saharan dust is moving toward Florida and may reach the state by May 31, lingering for several days, according to radar forecasts. Computer models suggest an even larger, denser plume could follow by midweek, WKMG in Orlando reports. The dust is also expected to reach Texas by June 2.
Dust plume affects visibility and air quality, bringing hazy skies and potential health concerns, especially for people with respiratory issues.
Every so often, storms in the Sahara Desert send dust across the Atlantic. Suddenly, orange skies and stale, dusty winds can blanket streets with fine sand. But did you know that Saharan dust still contains radioactive isotopes from nuclear tests conducted during the Cold War?
During the 1960s, France conducted a number of nuclear tests in Algeria's Sahara, which they considered an ideal site for tests. These tests exposed thousands of people to radiation. Yet scientists say that the radioactivity of the Sahara isn't from France's tests, but rather from nuclear tests done by the US and the Soviet Union in other locations that actually drifted to the Sahara.
Click on to read more about this fascinating story.