A historic Saharan dust storm is making its way across the Atlantic. There's a silver lining.

You probably think the Saharan dust storm that's headed toward the Gulf Coast and larger any "we've seen in 50 or 60 years" is a cause for concern. It certainly is, but there is an important silver lining.

While dust storms carry minerals like iron and phosphorus that fertilize the Amazon and other crucial centers of biodiversity, which is important for sustaining natural life, they also pose a threat to air quality and, subsequently, public health, The Atlantic reports. That's doubly worrisome considering research has shown people living in areas with high levels of air pollution are at a higher risk of dying from COVID-19. But there is one aspect of the historic dust storm that could prove beneficial for humans: hurricane suppression.

Per The Atlantic, the dry storms have the ability to soak up moist air in which hurricanes are formed. In its place it leaves sinking air and changing winds that tear apart young hurricanes before they become large and threatening. As The Washington Post notes, hurricane season has gotten off to a busy start this year, but thanks to the dust storm, the next month or should feature conditions unfavorable for tropical storms and hurricanes, providing a temporary reprieve from their potential danger. Read more at The Atlantic and The Washington Post.

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