Overview
- A Saharan dust cloud now sits over Germany, with forecasters flagging dust-stained rain in the west and southwest first and an eastward shift next.
- The airborne dust is lowering air quality in affected areas, with conditions expected to ease from midweek.
- Model runs show the plume stretching across Europe up to Oslo and southern Sweden, with a dense band from the Balearic Islands over Italy into the Alps and later Greece.
- Where showers fall, the dust deposits as a reddish film on cars and windows, and drivers are urged to rinse with plenty of water rather than dry wipe to avoid scratches.
- During the Easter 2024 event, measured fine particles in parts of Germany exceeded the daily legal limit by two to three times, which officials say can worsen respiratory disease.