Short-lived surges of Saharan Dust are forecast to move across Trinidad and Tobago over the next ten days, leading to brief declines in air quality.
What you need to know
— Saharan Dust Surges: A brief and mild to moderate surge of dust is moving across T&T presently through Thursday, with another brief surge forecast from Sunday. A moderate to high-concentration dust surge is forecast to arrive across the Lesser Antilles, including T&T, from Wednesday, February 19th, 2025, lingering through the end of next week.
— Impacts: Air quality is forecast to remain good to moderate throughout the forecast period.
— What Should You Do: Sensitive groups are advised to take the necessary precautions, particularly during high traffic.
Current AQI Levels Across T&T
As of 4:00 PM, Tuesday, February 11th, 2025, the official air quality monitoring stations from the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) at Point Lisas, Arima, Beetham, and San Fernando all report good air quality, while the Signal Hill, Tobago station is not currently transmitting PM2.5 or PM10 data. Moderate air quality is being reported at the Toco station.
Unofficial air quality monitoring stations at Longdenville and Woodbrook report good air quality.
These measurements are based on PM2.5 (particulates the size of 2.5 micrometers and smaller, usually associated with increases in Saharan Dust, vehicle exhaust, and smoke) and PM10 particulates.
Outside of rainfall, visibility, used as a proxy for Saharan Dust concentrations, has remained at or above 10 kilometers at the A.N.R. Robinson International Airport at Crown Point, Tobago, and the Piarco International Airport, Trinidad, over the last 24 hours.
Saharan Dust Forecast For T&T
Higher dust levels will remain offshore east of the Lesser Antilles through the forecast period.
Tuesday (Feb 11th) through Friday (Feb 14th): Mild to moderate Saharan Dust concentrations forecast across Trinidad and Tobago. Air quality at good to moderate levels.
Saturday (Feb 15th): Little to no Saharan Dust forecast across Trinidad and Tobago. Air quality at good levels.
Sunday (Feb 16th) through Monday (Feb 17th): Mild to moderate Saharan Dust concentrations forecast across Trinidad and Tobago. Air quality at good to moderate levels.
Tuesday (Feb 18th): Little to no Saharan Dust forecast across Trinidad and Tobago. Air quality at good levels.
Wednesday (Feb 19th) through Friday (Feb 21st): Moderate to occasionally high Saharan Dust concentrations forecast across Trinidad and Tobago. Air quality at moderate levels, occasionally reaching levels considered unhealthy for sensitive groups.
What does this mean for you?
Times of increased Saharan Dust are likely to bring air quality to moderate levels, chiefly affecting the most sensitive groups of the population. The general public is not required to take action.
The surges of dust during this time of year are due to the Harmattan, a season in the West African subcontinent that occurs between the end of November and the middle of March. During this season, a predominant northeasterly trade wind (dubbed the Harmattan Winds) blows from the Sahara Desert over Western Africa into the Gulf of Guinea.
During this period, a ridge of high pressure stays over the central Sahara Desert, and the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) remains over the Gulf of Guinea. The Harmattan wind accelerates when it blows across the mountain massifs of Northwest Africa. If its speed is high enough and it blows over dust source regions, it lifts and disperses the dust.
Dust that makes it into the upper levels of the atmosphere can then get transported across the Atlantic Ocean and affect the Eastern Caribbean. These Saharan Dust outbreaks tend to be milder in the Eastern Caribbean than the dust outbreaks.
