A huge plume of dust has traveled from the Saharan Desert and is now making its way to the U.S. after shrouding the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico in a thick haze. The plume, the largest in decades to reach the Caribbean Sea, is expected to travel into the U.S. later in the week.

Known as the Saharan Air Layer (SAL), the current plume traveled 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean, and is expected to travel another 2,000 miles. SAL commonly forms from late spring through early fall and moves into the tropical Atlantic Ocean every three to five days, according to NOAA's Hurricane Research Division (HRD). Saharan dust takes a 5,000-mile-long journey as far west as the Caribbean Sea, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico each year. However, it is usually not as thick as the current conditions over the Caribbean.

According to Dr. Olga Mayol of the Institute for Tropical Ecosystem Studies at the University of Puerto Rico, this SAL has the highest concentrations of dust particles observed that region in at least the last 50 to 60 years.

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(MORE: Massive Saharan Dust Plume Now in Caribbean Sea)

Photos above show hazy conditions in Puerto Rico, Barbados and Mexico. The dust might create hazy skies in parts of the U.S. into the weekend.

The Saharan dust plume is expected to reach parts of the Gulf Coast and Deep South late this week, and could move as far north and east as the Ohio Valley and mid-Atlantic this weekend.

According to NBC2 News, the dust could affect air quality and negatively impact those with allergies or respiratory illnesses. Public Health Officer for Collier County Department of Health in Florida, Kristine Hollingsworth, said in an interview that these individuals are advised to limit outdoor activities during the event.