Home / Editor's Pick /

Blood rain possible: Saharan dust reaches the UK & Ireland

11:00
21 March 2025

Blood rain possible
Saharan dust reaches the UK & Ireland

Saharan dust is currently travelling across Western Europe, into the UK and Ireland.

This, not uncommon, phenomenon brings with it the possibility of "blood rain". With dust falling with rain, often coating cars with residue.

The presence of dust in the skies also produces vibrant colours as the Sun rises and falls.

Heavy rain will pass over the UK and Ireland from Friday afternoon, overnight into Saturday, so delay any plans of a car wash.

You can track the dust, currently being transported by medium to high-altitude clouds, on the WeatherRadar.

Learn more about blood rain with our Weather Explainer!

Ryan Hathaway
More on the topic
Radar map showing widespread blue rain bands over the UK and Ireland with a triangular heavy-rain warning icon placed over central Britain.
Tuesday, 16 December 2025

Thursday rain

Incoming downpour prompts warnings
Weather map showing temperatures and a 4,542 mile route arrow over the Atlantic. Symbols indicate sun, clouds and precipitation from North America to Europe.
Wednesday, 17 December 2025

From Europe to America

Weather front over 4,500 miles long
pinecones
Thursday, 11 December 2025

Winter helpers

How pine cones aid the weather forecast
All weather news
This might also interest you
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
Mammatus clouds
Thursday, 21 August 2025

Unusual view

Mammatus clouds over Ireland
Split weather map showing the UK and Ireland. The left side illustrates strong winds circulating around a low-pressure system, with gusts of 20–30 mph highlighted in orange and yellow. The right side shows radar imagery with widespread blue rain bands and patches of thunderstorms, especially over northern England and Scotland.
Thursday, 28 August 2025

Breakfast brief

Remaining widely unsettled
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