Reading the European index
0 – 20Good20 – 40Fair40 – 60Moderate60 – 80Poor80 – 100Very poor100 and aboveExtremely poor
From 60 (poor), sensitive people may limit prolonged exertion.
Air quality & visibility
Air quality index, Saharan dust and horizontal visibility over Saint-Jean: now, over 5 days, the last 30 days and month by month.
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🌫️ European air quality index--
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Forecast
ⓘ 🌍 Saharan dust · Atlantic and Caribbeanⓘ --
Last 30 days
ⓘMonth by month
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Saharan dust haze
Several times a year, dust clouds lifted over the Sahara cross the Atlantic and reach the Caribbean, mostly from late spring to late summer. The sky turns milky, visibility drops and fine particles (PM10) rise: this is the "Saharan dust haze".
For watersports, these episodes mainly reduce visibility at sea and may bother sensitive people during sustained effort. They do not stop you from going out, but visibility under 5 km means keeping coastal landmarks in sight.
Visibility at sea
- 10 km or more: good visibility, neighbouring islands clearly visible.
- 5 to 10 km: reduced visibility (haze, dust).
- Under 5 km: poor visibility (squall, heavy dust haze) — stay close to shore.
Data source
Air quality: CAMS model from the European Copernicus service (via Open-Meteo), recomputed twice a day. Visibility: Open-Meteo forecast. Point 17.90° N – 62.84° W, Saint-Jean Bay.
Frequently asked questions
What is Saharan dust haze?
Clouds of dust lifted over the Sahara that cross the Atlantic: the sky turns milky, visibility drops and fine particles increase.
When is air quality worse in St Barth?
Mainly during Saharan dust episodes, more frequent from late spring to late summer.
How much visibility do you need to sail?
From 10 km, visibility is good. Between 5 and 10 km it is reduced; under 5 km it is poor: stay close to shore and keep coastal landmarks in sight.
Where does this data come from?
Air quality: CAMS model from the European Copernicus service, via Open-Meteo. Visibility: Open-Meteo forecast, for Saint-Jean Bay.