SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — Meteorological analyst Jean Suriel has warned that air quality is likely to deteriorate over the next several days as two atmospheric events affect the country: lingering smoke from Canadian wildfires and the arrival of the season’s 12th Saharan dust plume.
According to Suriel, smoke generated by wildfires in Canada has been carried into the Caribbean by a trough extending from the North Atlantic. As the smoke spreads across the Dominican Republic, it could increase the risk of allergic reactions and discomfort for people with respiratory conditions.
Rain Expected Before Saharan Dust Arrives
Suriel said the same weather system is also drawing moist air over the country, creating favorable conditions for periods of rainfall across the Central Mountain Range as well as the southeastern, northeastern and northwestern regions.
On Thursday, the interaction between the trough and the approach of Tropical Wave No. 29 is expected to produce more widespread showers and thunderstorms. During that time, the smoke from the Canadian wildfires is forecast to gradually move away from the Dominican Republic.
Saharan Dust to Bring Hazy Skies and Higher Temperatures
While the wildfire smoke is expected to diminish, Suriel warned that another weather event will quickly replace it. The 12th Saharan dust plume of the season is forecast to arrive on Friday and remain over the country through Sunday.
The dust cloud is expected to reduce air quality, create hazy skies and contribute to warmer daytime temperatures. Saharan dust episodes are also known to aggravate allergies and respiratory conditions, particularly among children, older adults and people with asthma or other chronic breathing illnesses.
Health Concerns During the Weekend
With both atmospheric phenomena occurring within days of each other, residents who are sensitive to airborne particles may experience increased discomfort. The combination of elevated temperatures and suspended dust particles could also reduce visibility in some areas while contributing to a drier atmosphere after the expected rainfall subsides.
Suriel’s forecast highlights a rapidly changing weather pattern in the Dominican Republic, with rainfall expected to give way to hotter, hazier conditions as the Saharan dust plume settles over the country during the weekend.