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Saharan Air Layer Reaches Belize
posted (June 23, 2020)
Skies all over Belize were ashen grey this morning - but don't blame forest fires or bad weather - it's a region wide phenomenon caused by what is known as the Saharan Air Layer.

That's a vast cloud of dust from the Sahara desert that's blanketing the Caribbean as it heads towards the US. Experts say the size and volume of dust hasn't been seen in half a century, and this one is being called the "Godzilla dust cloud". And while that may sound dramatic, it's with good reason. Air quality across most of the Caribbean reached record "hazardous" levels. We have seen numerous public health warnings from across the region and from Guatemala which warn people to stay indoors and use air filters if they go outside.

In Belize, there's an advisory from the MET service which says, quote, "The SAL is expected to continue producing hazy and dusty conditions over Belize through to next week, with a temporary break at the start of the weekend.

Persons with respiratory or heart disease, elderly persons or children should take precaution, stay hydrated, wear protective gear and avoid outdoor activities as much as possible and seek advice from your health care provider to stay adequately protected from the dusty and dry conditions." End quote

Today in Belmopan we asked the Deputy Director of Health Services about it:

Dr. Francis Murray, Deputy Director Of Health Services
"This phenomenon is something that happens on a yearly basis. It's something that I believe affects mostly Caribbean countries it's the Sahara dust that is this phenomenon. It brings about the pollution that occurs within the air from various, I believe it comes from the African continent and drifts within the Caribbean to other countries. It also brings a lot of dust and other particles within the air that are not good for our health, and it primarily affects those who have lung conditions, who are asthmatics persons who have COPD, who have been smokers and have certain particular lung damage or have diseases of the lungs and hence that's part of why we particularly, and, using the facemasks helps those persons who are breathing the air that is not healthy and so we expect that we may have persons who have asthma actively having acute crisis within these days."

Cherisse Halsall:
"We know that a lot of other Caribbean countries issued warnings, why is it that our government hasn't issued a similar warning?"

Dr. Francis Murray
"I'll be honest with you. I only heard about the Sahara phenomenon last night. I have been attentive to other media and I believe that was something that we all were not aware of."

"Change in weather and climate may be a possible reason why this phenomenon is coming, reaching Belize. This is the first time I'm even hearing of it reaching this far."

So, again, the Sahara Air Layer is expected to continue producing hazy and dusty conditions over Belize through to next week, with a temporary break at the start of the weekend.

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