It is the most serious wave of sand and dust since 2018, according to the Greek meteorologist.
Wednesday 24 April at 03:27
The short version
- Several Greek cities were covered in sand and dust from the Sahara desert on Tuesday afternoon
- The weather phenomenon is called shirokko and can be harmful to health
- This is the most severe wave of sand and dust in Greece since 2018
- The sand can potentially reach Norway and cause “rain of blood” if the particles get high enough into the atmosphere
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On Tuesday afternoon, several Greek cities were covered by a veil of sand that left the cities in a deep orange color.
On-duty meteorologist Bente Wahl at the Meteorological Institute explains that it is due to gusts of dust and sand that have blown across the Mediterranean from the Sahara desert.
The weather phenomenon is called shirokko. But even if the sand veil is reminiscent of an Instagram filter, it can be harmful to health.
– I don’t know exactly how the situation is in Athens, but such phenomena can certainly be harmful to health. These are small particles, so it becomes the same as airborne dust and air pollution, explains Wahl.
Meteorologist at the Meteorological Institute
It is not the first time this year that sand from the Sahara desert has colored land in southern Europe in different shades. The Greeks have experienced this several times this year alone, but this episode is causing a stir.
– It is one of the most serious episodes of dust and sand concentrations from the Sahara since 2018, says Kostas Lagouvardos, director of weather research at the Athens Observatory.
This is written by the AFP news agency.
Can lead to “rain of blood”
Last month, here at home, we also had a taste of the African sand – almost literally.
Then we were served “blood rain”, i.e. a combination of reddish sand from the Sahara and rain.
– Can this happen again in Norway now, based on what is happening in Athens?
– It is difficult to say, but if the sand particles get high up in the atmosphere, they can in the worst case reach us, and then the outcome will probably be the same as earlier this year, says Wahl and adds:
– But there are many contingencies that must be met for the sand to arrive here, she emphasizes.
Wahl believes that the sand originates from Libya, which was hit by a powerful sandstorm on Monday.
The situation was so bad that, among other things, schools and airports had to close down.
Photos and videos shared on X show that Libya is engulfed in a red sand fog.
