More orange skies as Saharan sand on its way to France this weekend

This will mainly affect the south. The last such sand clouds contained radioactive particles, caused by French nuclear testing in the 1960s. This poses no danger to health

25 March 2022 14:21

Weather patterns regularly pick up particles of sand from the Sahara desert in North Africa and transport it to Europe, covering everything with a light orange dust

Car in Europe covered in Sahara sand transported from North Africa, with the words “Sahara sand” written in the dust Pic: Ilona Koeleman / Shutterstock

By Hannah Thompson

More Saharan sand is to settle in France this weekend, with the south of the country expected to be particularly affected in this latest episode.

Ths dust is expected to cause orange-hued skies and scatter rust-coloured dust across vehicles and pavements from Saturday, March 26 and last until at least Sunday, said European Earth Observation Programme, Copernicus.

Yet another #SaharanDust storm should be reaching the Mediterranean basin in the next few days

According to the forecast of @CopernicusECMWF, the dust cloud will reach Italy on 26 March

⬇️#CAMS Aerosol forecast (visualised in @Windycom) for the 24 - 27 March time period pic.twitter.com/KE86LNSZSn
— Copernicus EU (@CopernicusEU) March 24, 2022

weather and seasons

Sand

health

More from Connexion

Explainer: France’s ZRR schemes and how they benefit rural communities

Really speak like a local… use these French filler words

France ups aid for geothermal heat pumps to minimum of €5,000 for all

Resident or second-home owner in France?

Benefit from our daily digest of headlines and how-to's to help you make the most of life in France

By joining the newsletter, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy

Ferry at risk, €100 fuel aid, toll badge scam: 8 French travel updates

1 day ago

Change to recycling rules in France and what can go in yellow bins

4 days ago

French tests, more workers: France’s immigration bill begins debate

3 days ago

9 changes for residents and homeowners in France in February 2023

6 days ago

France strikes January 31: Travel will be heavily disrupted

5 days ago

See more popular articles

The Connexion Help Guides

Visa and residency cards for France*

Featured Help Guide

- Visas and residency cards (cartes de séjour) for France help guide - Understand when visas and residency cards are required to move to France or come for an extended stay - Applies to Britons (post-Brexit) and to all other non-EU/non-EEA/Swiss nationalities - Useful to anyone considering a move to France, whether for work or otherwise, or wanting to spend more than three months at their French second home

Visa and residency cards for France*

Inheritance Law and Wills in France*