Key Facts
• June 2, 2025: Massive Saharan dust cloud covered much of the Caribbean.
• Spanned 3,200 km from Jamaica to Barbados, 1,200 km from Turks and Caicos to Trinidad.
• Caused sneezing, coughing, and eye irritation across the Caribbean region.
• Puerto Rico’s aerosol optical thickness reached 0.55, the highest this year.
• NOAA measures aerosol optical thickness to assess sunlight blockage by particles.
• Dust cloud expected to reach U.S. South (Florida, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi) by weekend.
• Saharan Air Layer forms April to October, carrying dry, dusty air westward over the Atlantic.
• June and July typically see the highest dust concentrations, traveling 6,096–6,524 meters above ground.
• 2020 saw a record-breaking Saharan dust event, nicknamed ‘Godzilla Dust Cloud.’
Summary
A massive Saharan dust cloud, the largest of its kind this year, began its journey across the Atlantic on June 2, 2025, blanketing much of the Caribbean. Stretching 3,200 km from Jamaica to Barbados and 1,200 km from Turks and Caicos to Trinidad, the dust cloud caused widespread respiratory issues, prompting warnings for vulnerable individuals to stay indoors or wear masks. Puerto Rico recorded an aerosol optical thickness of 0.55, the highest in 2025, as measured by NOAA. The dust cloud is expected to reach the southern U.S. by the weekend, though its concentration typically diminishes over the eastern Caribbean. The phenomenon, part of the Saharan Air Layer, occurs annually from April to October, with peak dust levels in June and July. This event recalls the 2020 ‘Godzilla Dust Cloud,’ a record-breaking occurrence in size and density.
