Home
Weather London
WeatherRadar
RainfallRadar
TemperatureRadar
WindRadar
LightningRadar
Weather News
Editor's Pick
Discover the app
Weather widget
Contact us
Apps
Career
    Home / Editor's Pick /

    Across Southern Europe: Saharan dust continues to spread

12:00
29 March 2024

Across Southern Europe
Saharan dust continues to spread

Saharan dust is spreading in Southern Europe, causing poor air quality due to the fine sand and leaving deposits of dust behind.

In the southern regions of Italy, skies have taken on a hazy tone. Sicily and parts of Calabria are particularly affected. The video above shows what it looked like on Wednesday in Catania in Sicily.

The desert dust from the Sahara was channelled to Europe by a strong southerly wind, it will move further into Central Europe in the coming days but is unlikely to reach the UK or Ireland.

Saharan dust satellite image
Saharan dust seen spreading over Portugal and Spain earlier this week on March 22nd. - © NASA

Last week, the Saharan dust first reached the Iberian Peninsula, with satellite images showing the dust cloud spreading across Portugal and Spain.

Ski slopes look on an orange hue in Spain as the dust, also referred to as calima, reached the country.

See more of the initial impacts with our article below.

Spain: Skies and ski slopes turn orangeread more
Weather & Radar editorial team
More on the topic
50 years since historic 1976 heatwave. Three-month hot spell. . . Tuesday, 23 June 2026
Black-and-white photograph from the 1976 UK heatwave showing a crowded outdoor swimming area packed with people bathing, wading, and sitting along the water's edge during extreme summer heat.
Tuesday, 23 June 2026

Three-month hot spell

50 years since historic 1976 heatwave
A varied week of heat and rain. Your weather - Your shots. . . Sunday, 21 June 2026
Split image showing a stone cottage glowing in warm sunset light beneath dark storm clouds on the left, and a lighthouse silhouetted against a a golden seaside sunset with reflections on calm water on the right.
Sunday, 21 June 2026

Your weather - Your shots

A varied week of heat and rain
The longest day of the year. Summer solstice. . . Sunday, 21 June 2026
Split image showing crowds gathered at Stonehenge at dawn beneath a hazy sunrise sky on the left, and a UK and Ireland temperature map on the right with temperatures reaching 30 °C near London and a thermometer icon highlighting hot conditions.
Sunday, 21 June 2026

Summer solstice

The longest day of the year
All weather news
This might also interest you
Flooding, gales, and heavy snow. Storm Chandra. . . Tuesday, 27 January 2026
Split image showing aerial flooding in a town with muddy water covering roads on the left, and a rural road on the right blocked by heavy snowfall with vans stopped and a person walking in snow.
Tuesday, 27 January 2026

Storm Chandra

Flooding, gales, and heavy snow
Turbulent weather in the Canary Islands. Storm and rain. . . Friday, 12 December 2025
Weather graphic showing rain and wind fields over the Canary Islands and a central warning symbol.
Friday, 12 December 2025

Storm and rain

Turbulent weather in the Canary Islands
Storm Chandra makes impact. Severe gales & heavy rain. . . Tuesday, 27 January 2026
Split image showing strong winds over the UK on a forecast map and widespread rain and snow on a weather radar map.
Tuesday, 27 January 2026

Severe gales & heavy rain

Storm Chandra makes impact
All articles
Weather & Radar

Weather & Radar is also available on

Google Play StoreApp Store

Company

Contact us Privacy Policy Legal info Accessibility statement

Services

Uploader

Socials

facebooktwittertikToklinkList