Another Saharan dust storm cloaks southern Europe with orange skies

Satellite images show the dust cloud covering southern Greece, but experts say it will not move across Europe

A dust cloud is seen encroaching on Greece (European Union, Copernicus Sentinel-3 imagery)

Southern Europe has been hit by another orange dust storm that mainly affected the skies over Greece, satellite images have shown.

Multiple Saharan dust storms have affected Europe over the past two months, with some sand even ending up in the UK.

Images, taken by one of the European Union’s Copernicus Sentinel-3 satellites, show a dust storm encroaching on southern Europe on 5 April.

However, the latest aerosol observation from the EU’s earth observation programme predicts that the dust cloud will not travel further across Europe in the coming days.

A Saharan dust cloud seen from Waterloo Bridge in London on 16 March (PA)

The weather phenomenon is caused when particles of dust from arid regions, such as the Sahara, are blown over the Mediterranean and spread across Europe.

In a statement, the Copernicus programme described their satellite photo, saying: “This image, acquired on 5 April 2022 by one of the Copernicus Sentinel-3 satellites, shows the latest dust storm engulfing the Greek skies.

“The forecasting of these events is important because the suspended dust causes air quality to significantly worsen.

“They are harmful to human health, causing or worsening many respiratory diseases, as well as cardiovascular problems or meningitis.”

Saharan dust turned skies red and orange across Europe last month. Met Office meteorologist, Dan Stroud, explained at the time that the strange colours were caused by Rayleigh scattering (elastic scattering of light) from additional particles in the air.

He said: “The dust in the atmosphere causes the light to be more refracted, so you get the dominance of the red and orange tinges of the spectrum.”

A man crosses a road as dust from the Sahara desert blankets the coastal city of Roquetas de Mar, Spain, 15 March (EPA)

The March dust cloud hit Sussex, Kent and London and, during rainfall, dirt was brought down from the skies and left noticeable deposits on cars.