A massive plume of Saharan dust is currently enveloping the Caribbean and is on a trajectory toward the United States. This dust cloud is expected to significantly impact the Gulf region and other areas in the coming days. As of Tuesday, the dust was reported to be covering Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and other parts of the Caribbean, according to CBS Miami's NEXT Weather radar.

The forecast indicates that the plume will move northwest, reaching Florida by mid-week. Following that, it is expected to spread to other states, including Georgia, the Carolinas, Texas, and Louisiana by Friday. On Monday, cars were seen driving along a highway in Cataño, Puerto Rico, as a thick cloud of dust from the Sahara Desert blanketed the area.

Earlier in the week, a smaller dust plume from Africa had already reached Florida, with CBS Orlando affiliate WKMG reporting that radar showed dust lingering over the state. By mid-week, a larger plume is anticipated to cover Florida, which will likely affect air quality in the state. The dust is expected to flow northward, impacting air quality across southeastern U.S. states and the Gulf region.

Meteorologist Jason Dunion explained that dust from Africa typically travels across the Atlantic Ocean each year. This phenomenon is known as the Saharan Air Layer, with dust activity peaking from late June to mid-August. New dust plume outbreaks can be observed every few days, reaching as far west as Texas.

In addition to the Saharan dust, air quality in some states is also being affected by wildfire smoke from Canada. As of Tuesday, more than 100 wildfires were reported to be burning "out of control," according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center. This combination of dust and smoke poses potential health risks for residents in the affected areas.