Colossal cloud of Sahara dust smothers Caribbean en route to U.S.

NEW YORK, June 2 (Xinhua) -- A massive cloud of dust from the Sahara Desert blanketed most of the Caribbean on Monday in the biggest event of its kind this year as it heads toward the United States.

The cloud extended some 2,000 miles (3,200 kilometers) from Jamaica to well past Barbados in the eastern Caribbean, and some 750 miles (1,200 kilometers) from the Turks and Caicos Islands in the northern Caribbean down south to Trinidad and Tobago, noted The Associated Press in its report about the development.

"The hazy skies unleashed sneezes, coughs and watery eyes across the Caribbean, with local forecasters warning that those with allergies, asthma and other conditions should remain indoors or wear face masks if outdoors," it said.

The plume is expected to hit Florida, Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi late this week and into the weekend, but plumes usually lose most of their concentration in the eastern Caribbean, it added. Enditem