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Saharan Dust Plume Set to Brush Southern UK Today, Raising Risk of Brief 'Blood Rain'

Experts describe a brief, low-risk event with mainly dusty deposits.

Overview

  • CAMS forecasts the plume passing over southern England and the English Channel this afternoon at higher altitudes, with brief wet deposition possible where it intersects rain.
  • The agency indicates a potential secondary crossing over southern England on Wednesday based on latest model runs.
  • The aerosol layer is dominated by Saharan dust with some smoke from seasonal biomass burning in Equatorial Africa moving across the North Atlantic.
  • ‘Blood rain’ occurs when falling raindrops scavenge airborne dust and leave a thin residue on surfaces after evaporation, according to the Met Office.
  • Scientists expect the most noticeable effects to be dusty cars and hazy reddish or orange skies, with limited health concerns and only localized air-quality impacts where concentrations are higher.