Springfield, Illinois – A plume of Saharan dust drifting north from Texas is expected to spread across parts of the Midwest through Wednesday, bringing hazy skies and the potential for especially vibrant sunsets Tuesday evening. The dust is not expected to create widespread travel problems, but it may be noticeable at times, particularly during sunrise and sunset.
According to forecast guidance and regional weather offices monitoring the dust plume, the highest concentrations are expected to stretch from Texas into portions of Oklahoma, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and nearby states by Tuesday evening before gradually thinning into Wednesday. Air quality impacts are expected to remain limited for most people, although those with severe respiratory conditions may notice minor irritation if local pollution levels increase.
Across Illinois, residents from the St. Louis Metro East through Springfield, Peoria, Champaign and the Chicago area could see a milky appearance to the sky. The most striking sunset colors are expected where skies remain mostly clear Tuesday evening. Cloud cover or thunderstorms could reduce visibility of the display in some locations.
The dust should slowly diminish during Wednesday, though some haze may linger. Additional updates are possible if the plume shifts or becomes more concentrated.
