Air quality in Puerto Rico remained deteriorated Tuesday due to Saharan dust particulate and smoke from active wildfires, compounded by heat conditions posing an additional health risk. Meteorologist Lee Ann Inglés Serrano of the National Weather Service (NWS) in San Juan said Saharan dust concentrations are moderate and expected to gradually decrease during the day, though relief will be brief: another dust mass will raise concentrations again by Wednesday afternoon.
Smoke from wildfires reported since Monday, including one at the Juan Pérez farm between Carolina and Piñones, has added to the problem. The smoke plume, first observed Monday afternoon under circumstances not yet established, was visible enough that the control tower at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport reported it. The combined smoke and dust have reduced visibility in parts of the metro area, a situation that could persist into the morning since authorities have not gained direct access to the fire.