Overview
- Defra issued 'very high' air‑pollution warnings for parts of Kent, Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk, with 'high' alerts for London and parts of the South East.
- Met Office guidance says rain may wash dust to the surface as light deposits on cars and windows, with little to no visibly red rain expected.
- Forecasts indicate hazy red‑orange sunrises and sunsets across England and Wales from Thursday into Saturday as the plume passes close to the south.
- Copernicus/CAMS reports the plume, driven by Storm Regina over Iberia, is more intense and direct over Spain and Portugal than the late‑February event.
- Higher surface impacts are expected in Spain, Portugal and southern France, while at altitude the dust is projected to reach the North Sea and Scandinavia.