Also known as the Saharan Air Layer, the annual weather phenomenon can help dampen hurricanes. It makes sunsets and sunrises look dramatic and can negatively affect air quality.

Now, does the Saharan dust reaches the Northeast? Can it reach New Jersey? Here’s what to know about the Saharan dust.

What is Saharan dust?

Just like the name suggests, dust and dirt from the Sahara Desert in Africa are swept across the globe.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the dry, dusty air forms over the arid region from spring through autumn. Trade winds can catch the dust, pushing a miles-thick layer in the atmosphere thousands of feet above the ground.

Which states are affected? Does Sahara dust reaches New Jersey?

The Sahara Dust typically affects the Caribbean, Bahamas, Florida and areas nearby. According to NOAA, it can reach as far west at Texas.

The massive plumes pushed across the ocean can be as large as the lower 48 states, and the dust can reach New Jersey, though with minimal impact.

Previous reporting suggests that when the dust reaches New Jersey, its effect is not perceptible inland, but those living by the ocean can suffer mild effects from it. Sahara dust tends to produce hazy skies and dry air.

This time around, the forecast doesn’t expect the dust from the coming wave reaching the Northeast.

➤ What is ‘dirty rain’? How Saharan dust can impact the weather

When does Saharan dust reach the U.S.? When does Sahara dust season peak?

 Saharan dust season typically starts mid-June and peaks from late June to mid-August, according to NOAA. In the U.S., bands can hit about every three to five days.

How does Saharan dust affect air quality? Can it cause coughing or sinus issues?

Saharan dust can affect air quality and trigger coughing and sinus issues for some people, especially if the coverage is thick.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines the weather phenomenon as a form of particulate pollution. It’s made of sand and minerals, but it’s not the same kind of dust as the household variety with dust mites.

People with asthma or other health issues affected by air quality might want to stay inside as much as possible when the dust is heavy in their area.

This year, Indiana and Kansas banned phones during the day, implementing policies that require students to keep their phones in inaccessible locations through the entire school day, USA TODAY reported.

Recently, Delaware, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia and Wyoming passed or updated less restrictive legislation on phones in schools, according to an analysis by the Becca Schmill Foundation, the Institute for Families and Technology, Smartphone-Free Childhood US and Jonathan Haidt’s The Anxious Generation.

Illinois, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania may follow suit.

Do cellphone bans work?

Yes and no.

Cellphone bans keep kids off their devices, but they don’t appear to impact test scores, attendance, self-reported classroom attention or perceived online bullying, according to a study published in April by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Additionally, researchers found that during the first year of a cellphone ban, disciplinary incidents rose and students’ reported well-being fell, though the effects subsided as the years passed.

Still, there’s a push for bans nationally, with the U.S. surgeon general’s office warning on May 20 that “compulsive” screen use is linked to poor sleep, substance abuse, developmental disruptions and social, mental and behavioral issues. The office suggested that cellphone bans in schools are a way to help put excessive screen time in check.

Finch Walker is the Pittsburgh Connect Reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Contact Walker at FWalker@usatodayco.com. Instagram: @finchwalker_. X: @_finchwalker.