Rare Saharan Dust Cloud Blankets Switzerland and Southeastern France
Residents of Switzerland and southeastern France witnessed an unusual phenomenon this weekend as a rare haze of Saharan dust enveloped the regions. The dust cloud cast a yellow hue over the sky, prompting health warnings from local authorities.
The event began on Friday in Switzerland, where the MeteoSuisse weather service reported a “very clear worsening of sunlight and visibility” along with a significant increase in fine particle concentrations. Concentrated below 3,000 meters, the dust led to notably reduced air quality. Switzerland’s airCHeck monitoring application flagged high pollution levels stretching from the southwest to the northeast of the country.
Roman Brogli, a forecaster with SRF Meteo, estimated that approximately 180,000 tonnes of Saharan dust had settled over Switzerland—double the amount recorded during recent similar events. “This is an exceptionally rare occurrence for our region,” Brogli noted.
In neighboring France, local authorities reported that air pollution thresholds were breached on Saturday in the southeastern and southern parts of the country. The Hérault department issued advisories urging residents, particularly those with heart or respiratory conditions, to avoid intense physical activities.
The Sahara Desert releases between 60 to 200 million tonnes of mineral dust annually. While larger particles settle quickly, smaller ones can travel thousands of kilometers, affecting air quality far from their source. The dust can also impart an orange tint to snow and impact glacier melting processes by reducing ice reflectivity—a concern amid rising global temperatures and shrinking glaciers.
Weather forecasts indicate that conditions are expected to improve by Sunday as atmospheric patterns shift, dispersing the dust cloud and restoring air quality in the affected regions.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
