Our #CopernicusAtmosphere forecast shows #SaharanDust crossing the central Mediterranean towards southern Italy, Greece and Cyprus for the first few days of February.
Follow the CAMS forecast here: https://atmosphere.copernicus.eu/charts/packages/cams/
Listen to our Podcast episode on Saharan dust: https://atmosphere.copernicus.eu/saharan-dust-storms
5 reasons behind the historic absence of #TropicalStorms this #hurricane season
It has been the longest #stormless streak in the #AtlanticBasin in over 50 years, and AccuWeather meteorologists point to several factors that have put a temporary pause on the 2024 hurricane season.
By Brian Lada, AccuWeather meteorologist and senior content editor
Published Sep 6, 2024
"AccuWeather’s Jon Porter was live on the AccuWeather Network on Sept. 4 to discuss how quiet the last few weeks have been in the tropics.
"The first week of September is usually one of the busiest times of the year for tropical storms and hurricanes, but there is an eerie silence across the #AtlanticOcean.
"AccuWeather adjusted its hurricane forecast amid the historic lull, with 2024 being the first time in 56 years a new named storm has not developed between Aug. 13 and Sept. 3. If nothing develops by Sept. 11, it would become the longest streak without a named storm around peak hurricane season since at least the start of the satellite era in 1960.
"There are several reasons behind the lull, some more meteorologically complex than others.
Delayed arrival of #LaNiña
"A rapid collapse of #ElNiño was forecast to be swiftly replaced by La Niña, which, despite being linked to water temperatures near the equator of the Pacific Ocean, can have a major influence across the Atlantic Ocean. Typically, La Niña results in less disruptive winds, known as wind shear, making conditions prime for tropical development across the Atlantic.
"However, La Niña has yet to officially develop. 'In March, it appeared that a transition to La Niña would occur sometime in the early to middle portions of the summer. Now it looks like La Niña may not start until the fall and might end up rather weak,' AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva said.
Abundance of dry, dusty air
"Tropical storms and hurricanes need moisture-rich air to thrive, but such conditions have been scarce leading up to the peak of hurricane season. "There was an unusually high amount of dry air and #SaharanDust across the Atlantic during the month of August,' DaSilva said.
"The dry, dusty air is predicted to decrease in the coming weeks, leading to conditions more favorable for tropical development.
'Convoluted' African wave train
"During hurricane season, clusters of thunderstorms over Africa eventually emerge over the Atlantic Ocean. These become known as 'tropical waves,' and when conditions are right, they can strengthen into tropical storms and hurricanes. But as of late, the train of tropical waves emerging off the coast of Africa has been 'convoluted,' according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski.
"Many thunderstorms in recent weeks have taken a rare path, drenching the #SaharaDesert. When the perspective tropical waves do emerge over the Atlantic Ocean, they are encountering too much dry air and wind shear and struggle to develop, Sosnowski said.
Stable upper atmosphere
"Another piece to the meteorological puzzle explaining the recent lull in tropical activity is the unusually warm conditions high in the atmosphere.
"'Temperatures in the upper atmosphere in the tropics have been well above average this year and above 2023 levels,' DaSilva said. Warm air high above the ocean can cause the atmosphere to be more stable, which makes it more difficult for thunderstorms to develop and organize into a tropical depression or storm. 'This could be tied to climate change and a warmer planet,' DaSilva added.
How does the rest of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season look?
"AccuWeather is predicting 16 to 20 named storms this season, lower than the initial forecast of 20 to 25 but still above the historical average of 14.
"'We don’t want anyone to let their guard down even though we are now forecasting fewer storms in total. We expect two to four more direct impacts to the United States this season. It only takes one powerful hurricane or slow-moving tropical storm to threaten lives and cause devastation,' AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter said.
The peak of the Atlantic hurricane season is Sept. 10, and it officially ends on Nov. 30."
RT by @CopernicusEU: Our #CopernicusAtmosphere aerosol optical depth forecast from 3 July shows a long plume #SaharanDust crossing the Atlantic and Caribbean, roughly on the path of #HurricaneBeryl
See the forecast:
https://atmosphere.copernicus.eu/charts/packages/cams/products/aerosol-forecasts?layer_name=composition_aod550&projection=classical_global
[2024-07-03 12:57 UTC]
RT by @EUClimateAction: #SaharanDust events can have impacts for solar energy output. So what can be done to better manage the problem?
This latest #ClimateNow episode explores the growing issue of Saharan dust hitting solar energy production using CAMS & #C3S data.
https://www.euronews.com/green/2024/06/17/how-is-saharan-dust-impacting-solar-power
[2024-06-21 13:20 UTC]
RT by @CopernicusEU: #CopernicusAtmosphere is monitoring the latest #SaharanDust episode affecting Europe over the next few days with high dust Aerosol Optical Depth values predicted over France, Italy and parts of Central Europe.
[2024-06-18 15:18 UTC]
RT by @CopernicusEU: Bad #weather over Northern #Italy.
#Copernicus #Sentinel3 captured on May 21 this image showing a storm cell over Adriatic sea and #Saharandust transport over Southern Regions.
#Italia: maltempo al nord con una cella temporalesca sulla costa Adriatica e sabbia sahariana al Sud.
[2024-05-22 09:21 UTC]
RT by @EUClimateAction: More #Saharandust episodes predicted for Europe with relatively high surface concentrations for parts of Italy, France, Switzerland, Germany and Greece over the coming days in the CAMS regional ensemble forecast from 29 April.
[2024-04-29 14:29 UTC]
RT by @CopernicusEU: #SaharanDust plume from last #Calima extending over N Atlantic from Azores to Europe with new intrusion crossing the Mediterranean in the coming days. #CopernicusAtmosphere aerosol optical depth forecast initialized 14 April 00 UTC https://atmosphere.copernicus.eu/charts/packages/cams/products/aerosol-forecasts?layer_name=composition_aod550&projection=classical_global @CopernicusECMWF @ECMWF
[2024-04-14 15:16 UTC]
RT by @CopernicusEU: Majorca 
is an island in the Balearic Archipelago 
With an average of over 300 days of sunshine per year, it is an ideal holiday destination 
In the past days, the #AirQuality on the island has been affected by a #SaharanDust cloud
#Sentinel2 image acquired on 8 April
[2024-04-13 09:25 UTC]
RT by @CopernicusEU: 
#CopernicusAtmosphere forecasts show the exceptionally large-scale #SaharanDust transport across Europe.
The latest episode has been leading to high PM10 concentrations at ground level for the Iberian Peninsula, and some parts of France & Germany.
[2024-04-08 11:32 UTC]
RT by @CopernicusEU: #SaharanDust continuing to mover across Europe ahead of an Atlantic front & changes in wind direction later in the week in the #CopernicusAtmosphere aerosol optical depth forecast initialized on 8 April at 00 UTC https://atmosphere.copernicus.eu/charts/packages/cams/products/aerosol-forecasts?layer_name=composition_aod550&projection=classical_europe @CopernicusECMWF @ECMWF @CopernicusEU
[2024-04-08 14:26 UTC]
Find out why we've been having unusual sunsets and everything outside covered by reddish dust in northern Germany recently.
This latest #SaharanDust episode ... that led to warmer weather across western Europe in recent days ... While it is not unusual for Saharan dust plumes to reach Europe, there has been an increase in the intensity and frequency of such episodes in recent years, which could be potentially attributed to changes in atmospheric circulation patterns.
#CopernicusAtmosphere forecasts show the exceptionally large-scale #SaharanDust transport across Europe.
The latest episode has been leading to high PM10 concentrations at ground level for the Iberian Peninsula, and some parts of France and Germany.
RT by @CopernicusEU: #WorldHealthDay
Europe is no stranger to 'yellow skies' when high quantities of #SaharanDust are transported across our continent
Data from #Copernicus helps track dust clouds and forecast and assess their impact on #AirQuality 
[2024-04-07 09:29 UTC]
RT by @CopernicusEU: 
High temperatures and another exceptional #SaharanDust episode predicted across Europe through the weekend into early next week as shown in our #CopernicusAtmosphere aerosol optical depth forecast from 5 April.
[2024-04-05 13:57 UTC]
RT by @CopernicusEU: #ImageOfTheDay
Following last week's episode over the Iberian Peninsula, a new massive #SaharanDust storm has engulfed the skies of the central Mediterranean Basin
On 28 March, it covered 
, as seen in this #Sentinel3 
image of the same day
[2024-03-28 10:35 UTC]
RT by @EUClimateAction: #ImageOfTheDay #Calima
A #SaharanDust
storm has been hovering over Europe since last week
As visible in this #Sentinel2 image, the dust cloud engulfed the skies over #Portugal
on 22 March
According to @CopernicusECMWF, dust will reach Italy & Greece in the coming days
[2024-03-25 09:49 UTC]
Very high #SaharanDust concentrations predicted to continue across the Mediterranean to SE Europe by #CopernicusAtmosphere regional forecast.
Stay informed about possible hazards with national and local #airquality services.
See the forecast 
https://bit.ly/43AQgS7
RT by @CopernicusEU: #DYK that our #CopernicusAtmosphere monitoring service provides #AirQuality monitoring and forecasting at European and global levels?
https://atmosphere.copernicus.eu/
#Sentinel3 image acquired on 1 March of a #SaharanDust storm crossing the Mediterranean basin
[2024-03-02 10:23 UTC]
RT by @CopernicusEU: #SaharanDust transport across the Atlantic #Ocean continues , as visible in this #Sentinel2 image of Cabo Verde 
acquired yesterday, 20 February
Check the #CopernicusAtmosphere Monitoring for today’s forecasts at https://atmosphere.copernicus.eu/charts/packages/cams/products/aerosol-forecasts
[2024-02-21 14:39 UTC]
