Texas
Massive dust plume from Sahara Desert to bring hazy skies to Florida, Texas
A new tropical disturbance is now being monitored for development in the eastern Atlantic Ocean just in the wake of Invest 95L, which is on the cusp of becoming a tropical depression or Tropical Storm Beryl.
HOUSTON — A massive plume of dust from Africa’s Saharan Desert is blowing across the entire Atlantic Ocean this week, set to reach the shores of Florida and Texas in the coming days and casting a haze over typically blue skies.
The plume is currently forecast to skirt South Florida late Friday night into early Saturday morning, then push into the Gulf of Mexico over the weekend.
Eventually, the plume is forecast to move into Southeast Texas Sunday into Monday, with Corpus Christi and perhaps Houston likely to see some of the effects.
Coastal communities along the Florida Peninsula and the Gulf Coast are accustomed to seeing plumes of Saharan dust over the summer, which can impact air quality, produce colorful sunrises and sunsets, and reduce the chances of precipitation.
182 million tons of dust a year carried away from Africa
As daily triple-digit heat bakes the Saharan Desert, hot, dry air rises from the surface and carries fine particles of dust from the sands. That dust-laden air climbs to the highest reaches of the atmosphere, where winds called the Easterlies or Trade Winds (blowing from east to west) carry that dust about 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean into the Western Hemisphere in what’s known as the Saharan Air Layer (SAL).
5 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE SAHARAN DUST PLUME
According to NASA, about 182 million tons of dust leave Africa every year, though that amount can vary depending on the amount of rainfall south of the Sahara region.
Depending on the amount of dust being carried by the plume, air quality can be drastically affected. This means that people who have certain types of breathing problems can experience difficulty. People in the path of the plume can also experience eye, nose and throat irritation because of the fine dust particles in the air, according to WebMD.
The dry air from the hot, sandy desert also works to suppress tropical development and significant plumes of dust and dry air are common in the Atlantic during the first two and a half months of the hurricane season.
However, the current situation is a bit unusual in that there is quite a bit of tropical activity percolating in the Atlantic even with a significant dust layer.
Invest 95L and another tropical disturbance just to its east are holding positions just south of the dust layer, and are feeding off available moisture to their south to skirt the edges of the dust layer as they trek west.
However, the dust layer may become an important variable in the storms’ future development depending on their track.
As a judge weighs whether to reinstate the eligibility of Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby, the NCAA has reiterated its decision that Sorsby’s gambling habits prevent him from playing again.
Via Justin Williams of The Athletic, the NCAA denied Texas Tech’s appeal aimed at restoring Sorsby’s eligibility to play in 2026.
It’s no surprise, and it also has no impact on the pending civil case. The question comes down to whether the judge who heard arguments in the case on June 1 decides whether to overturn the NCAA’s position.
The NCAA would surely pursue any available appeals, and time is of the essence. Sorsby’s deadline for applying for the NFL’s 2026 supplemental draft arrives on June 22.
BREMOND, Texas (KWTX) – Early Friday morning, an 18-wheeler slammed on its breaks to avoid a herd of runaway cows, in turn causing a communitywide effort to drive the cattle back through town to their home.
According to a Facebook post from the Bremond Volunteer Fire Department, at around 5:45 a.m., the driver of the 18-wheeler noticed a herd of cattle in the road and slammed on the breaks to avoid hitting them.
Unfortunately, several cattle were hit and killed.
“The community rallied quickly,” the post said, “using their vehicles to help herd the remaining cattle through town.”
Some cows were in backyards, residential gardens, or on railroad tracks. Local cowboys and cowgirls even came to help.
Despite the sadness for the lost cattle, the post described the chaos of the incident as a “heartwarming sight,” with everyone “coming together to safely guide the rest of the herd home.”
Copyright 2026 KWTX. All rights reserved.
AUSTIN, Texas — Looking for weekend plans?
From free concerts and cultural celebrations to shopping events and community festivals, here are six events happening across Central Texas this weekend.
Austin Swappin’ returns Saturday
- Ready to refresh your wardrobe without spending a fortune?
- Austin Swappin’, the city’s largest clothing and accessories swap, returns Saturday to Wanderlust Wine Co. in East Austin.
- For $10 and 10 gently used items, attendees can trade for new-to-them clothing, shoes, jewelry, books, and more. The event also features giveaways, a photo booth, food vendors, matcha drinks, and a fill-a-bag thrift sale benefiting local nonprofit Thrift-ish.
Music Under the Star kicks off Friday night
- Free live music is back at the Texas Capitol Mall.
- The Bullock Texas State History Museum’s “Music Under the Star” concert series begins Friday evening with performances by indie-folk acts The 44-11 and Elijah Delgado.
- The free event also includes food trucks, drinks, and views of Austin’s downtown skyline. Music begins at 7 p.m.
Waterloo Greenway opens The Confluence
- A major new public space is opening in downtown Austin.
- The newest phase of Waterloo Greenway, known as The Confluence, officially opens Saturday. The project transforms a once-flood-prone section of Waller Creek into a new gathering space that connects nature and downtown Austin.
- The free grand opening celebration runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and includes a ribbon-cutting ceremony, live music, food, family activities, and opportunities to explore the new trails and park features.
Jane Austen Improv celebrates three years
- The award-winning Jane Austen Improv troupe is celebrating its third anniversary with a special performance at the Long Center.
- Known for blending Regency-era romance with improvised comedy, the group will perform Saturday evening.
- The 6 p.m. show is nearly sold out, but tickets remain available for the 8:30 p.m. performance.
Round Rock Pride marks five years
- Round Rock Pride is celebrating a milestone anniversary this weekend.
- The festival marks its fifth year and is expected to bring thousands of people to downtown Round Rock for live entertainment, food, local vendors, and community celebration.
- The free event takes place Saturday from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Centennial Plaza.
Mexican American Cultural Center reopens
- After nearly three years of renovations and expansion, Austin’s Mexican American Cultural Center is reopening its doors.
- The grand reopening celebration, called “Juntos de Nuevo,” takes place Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Visitors can enjoy live music, dance performances, art exhibits, hands-on workshops, food trucks, an artisan market, and tours of the newly renovated facility. The event is free and open to the public.
Know about a great weekend event?
Email details to jcestrada@cbsaustin.com or ammiller@cbsaustin.com for possible inclusion in a future Weekend Check segment on CBS Austin.
-
Detroit, MI14 minutes agoTigers takeaways: Detroit rolls to a little ALDS revenge vs Seattle
-
San Francisco, CA26 minutes agoChapman (8 RBIs) among trio of Giants with 2 HRs in 18-run Wrigley romp
-
Dallas, TX29 minutes agoIsolated Flooding Threat to North Texas Late Saturday
-
Miami, FL34 minutes agoTampa Bay Rays beat the Miami Marlins in game 1 of the series, with a score of 6-0
-
Boston, MA41 minutes agoRed Sox win series opener, ending rough stretch against Yankees – The Boston Globe
-
Denver, CO43 minutes agoDenver weather: Near-record heat Saturday
-
Seattle, WA49 minutes agoCONGRATULATIONS! Parks Foundation award for two local organizations
-
San Diego, CA56 minutes agoSan Diegan celebrates 50 year career milestone
