Phenomenon from Africa brings hazy skies to Texas

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http://www.oaoa.com/news/nw062801f.htm

June 28, 2001

Phenomenon from Africa brings hazy skies to Texas

From Staff and Wire Reports

A huge dust cloud that has traveled about 5,000 miles from Africa to Texas

may begin to cast a haze over North Texas today, meteorologists predict.

The dust cloud is expected to have only a minimal effect in the

Odessa-Midland area, said forecasters with the National Weather Service in

Midland.

Local skies may take on a reddish hue at sunset when the cloud passes

through, but air quality in West Texas is not expected to deteriorate, nor

is the dust expected to settle at ground levels.

The dust cloud from the Sahara Desert may affect air quality but is not

likely to pose serious health concerns during the two or three days it

lingers over the Dallas area.

The dust cloud, which includes such allergens as mold, moved across South

Texas on Tuesday.

The Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission then determined that the

levels were high enough to irritate the throat and lungs in some people,

including children, the elderly and others with respiratory or heart

ailments.

OA staff writer Freeman contributed to this report.