An air pollution alert for the territory has been issued as a result of recent dust from the Sahara Desert in Africa, according to a DPNR news release. The dust causes the skies around the Virgin Islands to be hazy, which reduces visibility and results in poor air quality.
As a result of the dust storms and an increase in warm air, the particles rise above the desert and are then transported from the North African desert westward over the Atlantic Ocean across the Caribbean.
Walter Snow, senior meteorologist at the National Weather Service in San Juan, Puerto Rico, has confirmed that dust haze will remain over the territory through Friday and will begin to subside due to an expected tropical system. However, the dust will be still visible thereafter.
While this haze may not be an immediate threat, persons with allergies or respiratory ailments should remain indoors when possible, and consult their physicians or healthcare professional for further guidance.
Sahara dust storms pass through the region several times a year, but mainly in the spring and throughout the summer months.
For more information contact the Division of Environmental Protection at 773-1082 or 774-3320 or go to www.nasa.gov or http://weather.noaa.gov/weather/current/TIST.html.
