People have been warned against staying outside for long periods
The skies in parts of Spain have turned orange – thanks to the Sahara desert.
Dust from the Sahara crossed over the Mediterranean and was dumped over parts of Spain with warnings that Britain could be next to experience the phenomenon.
Storm Celia brought dust from the desert to areas such as Madrid and Murcia, meaning that Spaniards woke up to the bizarre orange skies.
The Laboratorio de Climatologia at the University of Alicante has warned people against staying outside for long periods, recommending the use of masks after Spanish officials issued extremely poor air quality ratings.
An orange haze has descended on much of Murcia and Alicante on Monday March 14 as the promised #StormCelia has delivered early, with banks of #SaharanDust dramatically reducing visibility and turning the afternoon sky to sunset. https://t.co/rG1CsGqCFg pic.twitter.com/w0SDIwOZAg
— Spanish News Today (@MurciaToday) March 14, 2022
There are now warnings that the poor air quality could hit southern England as soon as Wednesday.
BBC Weather reporter Carol Kirkwood told BBC Breakfast: “Look at the orange sky, this is Saharan dust.
“These pictures taken by some of our viewers yesterday in Alicante are quite spectacular. And the reason that it has happened is because of storm Celia.
Parts of Spain are looking a little like Mars at the moment!
Skies have turned orange in the last few hours across southeastern Spain – including Alicante and Murcia – as strong winds blow in dust from the Sahara. pic.twitter.com/qIkJtQ7XSe— BBC Weather (@bbcweather) March 14, 2022
“There has been very poor air quality today in parts of Spain, and it could well affect us in the southeast and East Anglia on Wednesday.
“So if you wake up on Wednesday and your car is covered in orange dust you know where it’s coming from and why.”
Dust brought up from the Sahara by Storm Celia is turning the sky vivid orange as it moves north through Europe towards south-eastern England.
Darren Bett explains: https://t.co/gq9zQWdl7k pic.twitter.com/1O0BaJhmRz— BBC Weather (@bbcweather) March 15, 2022
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