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The Saharan dust plume is about 2,000 miles wide from west to east and 750 miles long from north to south. Have you seen one before?

Gianna Montesano

Treasure Coast Newspapers

A Saharan dust plume is expected to waft over Florida and the Treasure Coast beginning June 4, according to meteorologists.

No hazardous weather is associated with the Saharan dust plume, but it is expected to linger into Thursday and early Friday, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Brendan Schaper in the Melbourne office.

The plume is about 2,000 miles wide from west to east and 750 miles long from north to south, AccuWeather hurricane expert Alex DaSilva wrote in a report released the forecasting company released June 2.

"Florida could see hazy skies and more colorful sunsets enhanced by the dust from Africa as early as Thursday," he wrote. "Hazy skies caused by the Saharan dust could be noticeable in Houston and New Orleans."

What is Saharan dust?

Saharan dust is made from sand and mineral particles swept up from 3.5 million square miles of Africa's Sahara Desert. The dust forms over the Sahara Desert during the late spring, summer and early fall.

Saharan dust transported to the United States is a normal occurrence, especially from late June to mid-August, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Its dust clouds can travel and affect locations globally, thousands of miles away from its African origins.

Three characteristics of Saharan dust that can affect tropical cyclones, tropical disturbances and the general climatology of the Atlantic tropical atmosphere, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, are:

How is the air quality in Florida? How can you check local conditions?

This map shows current levels of ozone and fine-particle pollution — and whether its range is good, moderate, unhealthy for sensitive groups, unhealthy, very unhealthy or hazardous — in locations with Air Quality Index monitors.

Port St. Lucie, Fla. — A joint venture between PEBB Enterprises and Banyan Development has sold The Shoppes at the Heart of Tradition, a 71,000-square-foot shopping center located within the master-planned community of Tradition, for $32 million. The center — which was completed in 2024 — is anchored by ALDI. Additional tenants include Papa Johns Pizza, Carmela Coffee, Kyle G’s Amore Italian Chophouse, Spanish restaurant Port Tradition, Tomalty Dental, Peach Cobbler Factory, Picasso Nails & Spa, Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard and Swift Mediterranean Grill.

One Investment Group represented the buyer, 4Y Plaza, LLC, in the transaction.

Tradition, which opened in 2003, spans approximately 8,300 acres and features a variety of residential, retail and commercial spaces.

The joint venture is also developing Shoppes at Southern Grove within the community, which will include a 14.2-acre retail development with additional outparcels available for ground lease.

Doral, Fla. — Codina Partners has received a $38.8 million construction loan for the third phase of Downtown Doral, a 250-acre mixed-use development located roughly twelve miles west of Miami in Doral. Ocean Bank provided the loan. The third phase of the project will add nearly 25,000 square feet of retail space along 87th Avenue, with 932 dedicated garage parking spaces for retail visitors.

UHealth – University of Miami Health System has leased 11,243 square feet on the north end of the development for UHealth Way, which will offer comprehensive eye care from the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute and physical therapy services.

The south portion of the project will include 13,644 square feet of retail space divided into nine customizable units — seven on the ground floor and two on the second floor. Codina Partners is scheduled to break ground on the third phase of development in the second quarter, with completion scheduled for 2026.

Pittsburgh — Tempus Realty Partners has acquired a 125,000-square-foot mixed-use property located in Pittsburgh’s Strip District for $43.8 million. The former warehouse has been redeveloped to include 94,580 square feet of office space and 31,405 square feet of retail. The property is fully leased to tenants including Aurora Innovation, Balvanera, Orr’s Jewelers and Design Within Reach.

Are you a winner? Someone in Florida is.

A ticket bought at a Florida liquor store is worth $2 million from Saturday's, May 31, Powerball drawing.

The big winner of the night was the person who purchased a Powerball ticket in California. That ticket won the $207 million jackpot.

➤ Winner! Powerball's $207 million jackpot matched, Florida ticket also wins big in May 31 drawing

Here's what you should know.

What were the winning Powerball numbers in May 31 drawing?

Winning Powerball numbers from the May 31 drawing were: 1-29-37-56-68. The Powerball was 13 and PowerPlay was 2.

Powerball ticket worth $207 million sold in California

The winning Powerball ticket from the May 31 drawing was sold at a 7-Eleven in Arleta, California, according to the Florida Lottery.

Arleta is located in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles.

Florida Powerball ticket worth $2 million

A ticket sold in Florida matched five numbers and the PowerPlay to win $2 million in the May 31 drawing.

For an additional $1, the Power Play multiplies non-jackpot prizes by 2, 3, 4, 5 or 10 times. The Match 5 prize with PowerPlay is always $2 million.

Another ticket sold in New Hampshire also matched five numbers and the PowerPlay to win $2 million, according to Powerball's website.

Where was the winning Florida Powerball ticket sold in May 31 drawing?

The winning quick pick ticket was sold at Peacock Liquor on Northwest Peacock Boulevard in Port St. Lucie, according to the Florida Lottery.

Where is Port St. Lucie, Florida?

Port St. Lucie is located on Florida's east coast, about 100 miles southeast of Orlando and about 40 miles north of West Palm Beach.

Where is the next Powerball drawing and what is the jackpot?

The next Powerball drawing will be held tonight, June 2. The estimated jackpot is $20 million.

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize

You also can claim your winnings by mail if the prize is $250,000 or less. Mail your ticket to the Florida Lottery with the required documentation.

Can you remain anonymous if you win?

If you’re a winner, Florida law mandates the following information is public record:

However, the Florida Lottery said, the "names of lottery winners claiming prizes of $250,000 or greater will be temporarily exempt from public disclosure for 90 days from the date the prize is claimed, unless otherwise waived by the winner. After 90 days, the winner’s name is no longer confidential and exempt."

Lottery experts and lawyers have said there are ways to remain anonymous if you win.

When are Florida Lottery drawings held?

Gianna Montesano

Costco opened a new store in Stuart less than a month ago, so could Port St. Lucie be next?

Negotiations are "ongoing at this time" to bring the wholesale warehouse store to Port St. Lucie, according to a text to TCPalm from Port St. Lucie Mayor Shannon Martin.

In 2024, TCPalm reported that a Costco Depot distribution center would be opening in Southern Grove, which will close and replace the distribution center at 5851 45th St. in West Palm Beach.

"The Costco Depot (distribution center) is already under construction in Tradition," Martin told TCPalm via text. "As far as a store goes, there's nothing in stone yet, however, there are negotiations ongoing at this time."

Here's what to know about the Costco distribution center and Port St. Lucie's history with the company.

Is Costco opening in Port St. Lucie?

Port St. Lucie expressed interest in having Costco open a new store in Florida's sixth-largest city in 2017, after plans to build a store in Palm City were withdrawn in the face of strong public opposition.

Then-Port St. Lucie Mayor Gregory Oravec offered to donate city land if Costco would build a store there.

"(We) would like to welcome you to our incredible city," Oravec said in a YouTube video. "I think we can work out a deal where you can have a premier site in the Southern Grove portion of Tradition for a purchase price of zero dollars. That's right. Zero dollars."

The company, however, selected its current location at 3173 S. Kanner Highway in Stuart, just south of Martin County High School, as the site of the Treasure Coast's first Costco.

What is being built in Southern Grove in Port St. Lucie?

The Costco distribution depot will be at Southern Grove, a manufacturing, logistics and retail development area alongside Interstate 95 in Port St. Lucie. Amazon, Cheney Brothers and FedEx have already built facilities there.

The Economic Development Council of St. Lucie County projects the facility would create 265 jobs with an average wage of $55,350 plus benefits, according to a Jan. 10, 2024, news release. The economic impact of construction is estimated at nearly $85 million, while the impact of the new jobs is estimated at about $198 million annually.

When the distribution center was announced, Martin said the city would be working to get a store in Port St. Lucie as well.

"We're trying very hard to get a retail establishment here, and hopefully that will happen in the future. But as for right now, it's the depot," Martin said in 2024.

Gianna Montesano is TCPalm’s trending reporter. You can contact her at gianna.montesano@tcpalm.com, 772-409-1429, or follow her on Twitter @gonthescene.

With almost 255,000 residents, Port St. Lucie is now Florida’s sixth largest city, according to the U.S. Census. City leaders tell CBS12 News it's not a matter of all of that growth coming too fast, but taking advantage of all the opportunities that come with it. (WPEC)

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (CBS12) — The rapid growth on the Treasure Coast is something that is not slowing down anytime soon.

With almost 255,000 residents, Port St. Lucie is now Florida’s sixth largest city, according to the U.S. Census.

This is up about 50,000 from 2020.

City leaders tell CBS12 News it's not a matter of all of that growth coming too fast, but taking advantage of all the opportunities that come with it.

“It’s getting a little crowded now, but you get used to it,” said Beverly Kamensky, a Port St. Lucie resident.

“I think it’s good. We’ve been here ever since the developers left and I think the politicians have taken over and done a good job,” said Ed Gillen, a Port St. Lucie resident.

Port St Lucie residents have mixed opinions on the rapid growth of its city.

But Scott Samples, the city's Public Information Officer, says this is something they have been planning for decades.

"This was kind of a long-term plan. It was expedited a bit as the growth has come at a quick pace. What you've seen is the developers who have those property rights to build are really trying to meet the demands they're seeing from a housing perspective or businesses,” said Samples.

Because of this demand, Port St. Lucie home prices are rising faster than average compared to the rest of the state, selling for a median price of $410,000, according to real estate website Redfin.Com.

But residents say it's still much more affordable then other big cities.

"Financially, it’s much less expensive living here than in New York,” said Charles Kamensky, a Port St. Lucie resident.

The affordability spiking the demand, leading to more developments, which unfortunately leads to more traffic.

“That’s not a good thing. Especially this time of year,” said Gillen.

“We try not to leave the house before 9am. If we have to go do something, try to be home by 3pm. Rush hour can be a little hectic,” said Kamensky.

Samples says they're taking a data-driven approach to combat traffic congestion around the city.

"So, where are the places we need to put roads, to expand roads, to build new roads,” said Samples.

That issue also falls on the developers inside neighborhoods.

"If a developer wants to build a housing complex, they have to build the roads to get in there,” said samples.

But perhaps the biggest thing Samples says residents value is green spaces. That's why the up and coming 'Port District' is a development the city is especially excited about.

The development opened last June with a park and boardwalk on the St. Lucie River. But eventually it will become the River Food Garden, with tons of restaurants and retail.

"The Port District- we've seen a tremendous response from the people that are coming there. So, it just shows that it contributes to that quality of life that people have moved to Port St. Lucie for,” said Samples.

Samples placed a big emphasis on the importance of public input.

That's why just last week, the city held their third public workshop where residents could come, voice their opinions, and help city officials see where the priorities lie now and in the future.

Samples says right now, the city is in the middle of updating their comprehensive plan that looks out until 2045.