Environment

Texas Weather Forecast: Scalding, With a Chance of Desert Dust From Africa

Grime wafting across the ocean from the Sahara is predicted to reach Houston today.
Dust from the Sahara travels across the Caribbean in this 2006 photo.Jason Dunion NOAA/HRD

Temperatures in Texas today might resemble those of the Sahara Desert, with heat-index values in Houston as extreme as 108. But that’s not the only similarity between the regions: A vast cloud of desert dust incoming from Africa is expected to hit Texas between now and Friday, potentially coating cars and windows with red grime and creating excellent sunsets.

The Saharan plume was moving over Mexico yesterday and could reach southern Texas today, according to the National Weather Service: