Air conditions around Asheville and surrounding areas will continue to decrease over the next several days as a dust layer approaches the area. Current air quality indexes indicate that conditions in far SW WNC, and around the Charlotte area have already decreased to impactful levels. Models indicate that the dust will continue to affect our region through the foreseeable future so prolonged outdoor exposure for at risk categories is not advisable. Below you can see the current (as of 11am Saturday am) air quality conditions for portions of the Southeast including North Carolina.
What Does This Mean?
For the next several days the quality of air will be affected by an immense amount of dust that is moving through the area. This dust can be traced all the way back to the Sahara Desert. Wind picks up dust particles from a very dry surface in Africa, and that dust is propelled by those strong winds all the way across the ocean. When the dust arrives, it causes trouble for many who struggle with breathing. Sometimes these dust particles are so small that you can’t even see them, but given enough time outside and they will cause some sort of shortness of breath. Young children and elderly adults with compromised immune system would be wish to limit outdoor times to sessions of 15-30 minutes at a time 2 to 3 times a day.
Air Quality Forecast
When Will The Dust Clear?
It is still somewhat uncertain as to how long the dust lingers, and there are some factors that need to be considered. This first wave of dust will likely clear by mid next week, but there appears to be another plume making it way across the Atlantic that will arrive later next month. Below you can see the progression of the dust over the past several days.
Waves of Haze
This appears to become a reoccurring event over the next several weeks with very limited tropical activity. This is good for those who have trips plans to the coastal areas. Any activity in the tropics will likely occur close to our shores, and it will be limited at that. I will keep you updated on dust progression, but you can always find your current conditions here: airnow.gov.