New post from missionary Erin Mackenzie

Posted: 23 Jun 2020 12:45 PM PDT

I didn’t need my sunglasses on this morning’s run. Nope, a Saharan Dust Plume made sure of that. We’re inside a cloud!

The particles that regularly accumulate on basically any horizontal surface is my house originate in the Sahara (how else to you think tropical storms are propelled across the Atlantic?), but this particular “Saharan Air Layer” (SAL) is the densest that’s been seen in years in parts of the Caribbean. My PR-based colleagues began sharing photos and memes midday yesterday; I first noticed a tinge in the sky yesterday evening. Today, it’s blatantly obvious (thankfully, in my case, only visibly – aka not because of respiratory issues or allergies triggered by the poor air quality!).

Monday, 6:56 pm, Cerro Alto (my balcony).

Tuesday, 7:08 am, botanical garden.

Tuesday, 7:12 am, botanical garden.

Tuesday, 7:13 am, botanical garden.

Tuesday, 1:41 pm, Cerro Alto (Calle Principal, through my front windshield).

I read that the atmospheric conditions which nurture the formation of SALs also inhibit cyclonic activity. Bring on the furniture polish, floor cleaner, and microfiber cleaning cloths!

Until next time, blessings!