WILLEMSTAD – Residents of Curaçao noticed it this week on dirty car windows and hazy skies: Saharan dust has once again settled over the island. According to Andy Luciano, head of Curaçao’s Meteorological Department, the phenomenon is typical for this time of year.
Luciano explained that during the first quarter of the year, Curaçao experiences strong easterly trade winds. These winds transport fine sand particles from the Sahara Desert— the largest desert in the world, covering roughly nine million square kilometers—across the Atlantic Ocean into the Caribbean. The dust is carried at altitudes of two to three kilometers before descending over the islands.
While the dust is a familiar seasonal occurrence, it can pose health concerns for people with respiratory conditions such as asthma. According to the Meteorological Department, symptoms may worsen when visibility over the island drops below eight kilometers.
To anticipate potential impacts, the weather service closely monitors visibility levels at nearby islands including Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, and Grenada. If visibility in those areas falls below ten kilometers, a yellow alert may be issued for Curaçao.
The Saharan dust season typically runs from January through the first half of April, during which multiple dust episodes can occur depending on wind strength and atmospheric conditions.