MIAMI — A dusty day in South Florida was caused by the latest wave of dust from Africa, prompting scientists to issue a health warning to locals.

The Saharan dust has arrived in the Sunshine State, and experts advise citizens to restrict their time outside.

Cameras show smog lingering over downtown Miami on Friday afternoon. This is what the dust looks like when it covers the area.

Cassandra Gaston is an Assistant Professor of Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. She stated that this is not the first time South Florida has been struck with Sahara dust.

“We witnessed this in 2020 during the so-called Godzilla dust event. “We measured some pretty bad levels of particulate matter,” she explained.

Particulate stuff in the dust cloud is what puts some people at risk.

According to the American Lung Association, Saharan dust particles are incredibly tiny and easily inhaled into the lungs.

People with chronic illnesses such as asthma and chronic obstructive lung disease are especially vulnerable, although anybody might experience respiratory symptoms as a result of dust exposure.

Saharan dust is just a cloud of dust from the Sahara desert that drifts across the Atlantic Ocean to South Florida.

“This is a regular condition. During the summer, the dust is frequently transported to the Caribbean, the Gulf, and southern Florida,” added Gaston.

Gaston stated that the dust can be very dense at times, as seen this week in South Florida.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. When there is a high dust concentration, people should spend as much time as possible indoors.

In addition to respiratory concerns, the CDC warns that high dust levels can cause eye and skin irritation.

The dust is likely to stay in place until the weekend. People who work outside should wear a face mask to protect themselves. Pets experience similar symptoms, therefore specialists urge owners to keep them indoors as well.