Longing for one of those brilliant orange Englewood sunsets? Now’s the time to catch one, because the magic comes from Saharan dust, and that’s leaving soon.
With those thick plumes easing out of Florida, things are shifting back to the usual wet-season routine. That means you’ll see the return of afternoon thunderstorms, the end to dry air keeping the tropics quiet, and just a handful of vibrant sunsets left, dust-enhanced and all.
Rain’s making a comeback. Showers and thunderstorms will start popping up earlier in the day and spreading farther inland now that dryness isn’t holding them back. Humidity’s creeping back in, too. The sea breeze will pump plenty of moisture onshore, reminding everyone it’s a Florida summer. You’ll still sweat, but those storms help shave a few degrees off peak afternoon heat.
The dry Saharan Air Layer acted as a natural hurricane shield for a while, holding tropical waves in check. Now, with the dust disappearing from mid-to-late August into September, that shield drops away, and the Atlantic basin’s more likely to wake up. This stretch marks the heart of hurricane season. If you haven’t checked your supplies, now’s the moment.
Regarding those sunsets, watch closely over the next couple of evenings. The haze that scatters sunlight and sets the sky flaming orange, red, and pink is fading fast. The sky’s milky look will sharpen up, turning true blue again. So, get outside tonight or tomorrow if you want one last, unforgettable twilight before the glow disappears until our next Saharan dust season.
