WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — We are tracking a light layer of Saharan dust that has moved over Florida Thursday.
Strong winds in the Saharan Desert lift the dust into the air. It is then carried by the Trade Winds across the Atlantic in the mid-upper levels of the atmosphere. The dust generally limits thunderstorms from developing, since they grow with excess moisture in the air.
While a few storms can still sneak through, rain chances will once again be limited on Friday with about a 30-40% chance. Highs will reach the lower 90s with feels-like temperatures near 100.
There is a moderate rip current risk for our beaches.
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A weak cold front will push into Florida late in the day on Friday. It will stall as it pushes into Central Florida on Saturday. The Saharan dust will be pushed south and we will get spotty thunderstorms to develop along the front. The highest chance for rain will be in the Treasure Coast and far inland areas.
The weather looks unsettled going into next week, but we will be watching another large plume of dust moving into the Caribbean and western Atlantic towards the middle of the week.
