Puerto Rico Forecasts Feels-Like Heat Index of 46°C
First Ever Islandwide Heatwave Warning and Stay-Home Advisory Issued
Puerto Rico, a world-renowned resort located in the Caribbean Sea, is reportedly on high alert due to a massive dust cloud crossing the Atlantic Ocean from the Sahara Desert in Africa, according to foreign media reports. The dust cloud covering the island is trapping heat, leading to a heat index forecast of up to 46 degrees Celsius.
According to Yonhap News Agency, "On the 25th (local time), the US National Weather Service (NWS) Puerto Rico San Juan forecaster issued heat warnings or heat advisories for all 78 municipalities of Puerto Rico," citing AP News and the Puerto Rican daily El Nuevo D?a. Puerto Rico, a US territory located in the Caribbean Sea, is a small island about five times the size of Jeju Island with a population of approximately 3.2 million and is popular as a resort destination with around 365 beaches.
According to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the dry and dusty air known as the 'Saharan Air Layer' typically travels over 5,000 km across the Atlantic Ocean from late spring to early autumn, peaking from late June to mid-August.
Map showing the area under heat advisory issued by the U.S. National Weather Service for Puerto Rico [Photo by Yonhap News]
The US National Weather Service explained that this heatwave occurred due to seasonal factors corresponding to early summer combined with the thick dust cloud from the Sahara Desert covering the island and trapping heat. Although temperatures briefly cooled due to rain the previous day, the Saharan dust cloud caused the weather to become hot and cloudy again on the island.
Authorities expect the dust cloud to remain until Thursday, the 27th, with the heat index in coastal areas forecasted to reach up to 46 degrees Celsius. Nearby Virgin Islands are also expected to experience several days of heat.
AP reported that this is the first time since the warning system was established and implemented in Puerto Rico six years ago that the heat advisory has been expanded beyond coastal areas. Local media also warned of deteriorating air quality due to fine dust and urged residents, especially those with respiratory illnesses and the elderly, to avoid unnecessary outdoor activities.
Meanwhile, Puerto Rico is generally known for its mild climate. However, last June, the capital San Juan recorded a temperature of up to 35 degrees Celsius, breaking historical records, with a heat index reaching 45 degrees Celsius, indicating abnormal high temperatures. The record-breaking heatwave at that time was analyzed to have been caused by abnormally high sea surface temperatures combined with hot winds crossing the Atlantic from the Sahara Desert.
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