Texas air quality warning as Houston braces for Saharan dust storm

Texas officials have warned of “harmful levels of fine particles” in the air due to a Saharan dust storm expected to hit the state.

“The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality expects hourly air quality observations to show harmful levels of particulate matter for South Texas,” the agency said in a statement.

“Closer to Houston, air quality is likely to be unhealthy for sensitive groups. That means if you have a chronic respiratory condition, you may notice allergy-like symptoms through Thursday, when the bulk of this Saharan plume arrives.

“Itchy, watery eyes, coughing and sneezing can all be side effects of this dusty air coming in,” the agency warned.

An “unhealthy for sensitive groups” air quality advisory was issued Wednesday for three areas of the state, including Brownsville-McAllen, Corpus Christi and Laredo.

Meanwhile, Austin, Houston, San Antonio and Victoria have been added to the list for Thursday.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality said the Saharan dust plume “will likely affect most of Texas by Thursday, with most areas (except extreme west Texas) experiencing noticeable impacts to fine particulate matter concentrations.”

Hazy skies are likely, the agency said, while hourly maximum concentrations could reach the “unhealthy” range in the south-central, far south and coastal regions.

Meteorologists warned this week that a thick plume of Saharan dust would head toward areas of southern Texas starting Tuesday, affecting air quality.

“Fine suspended particles will gradually spread further inland as southerly surface winds gradually transport dust northward,” the TCEQ forecast reads.

The Houston area will likely be affected for about two to five days, with the extent of the impact depending on the concentration and dispersion of the dust. If the concentration is high enough, air quality alerts could be issued this week.

“The Saharan air layer is a very dry, dusty air mass that forms over the Sahara Desert in late spring, summer, and early fall and moves over the tropical North Atlantic every three to five days,” according to the National Weather Service.

This natural phenomenon essentially steals moisture from the air as sand, dirt and other dust from the Sahara Desert region travels through the Earth’s atmosphere.

These plumes are common in the Atlantic in late June and early July, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Dust flares tend to occupy a layer of the atmosphere 2 to 2.5 miles thick, with the base beginning about 1 mile above the surface.

The dust storm comes after millions of Texas residents were urged to avoid using their cars in an effort to improve air quality this month.

The advisory was issued due to high levels of tropospheric ozone in the atmosphere.

Ground-level ozone, the main component of “smog,” is formed when pollutants such as vehicle emissions are released into the environment and react chemically in sunlight.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies ozone as a “harmful air pollutant” that can harm the health of children and other vulnerable groups.