Saharan dust plume reaches UK amid warm spell

What's happened

A Saharan dust plume carried by southerly winds has reached the UK, transforming sunrises and sunsets with amber and burnt-orange hues. It is expected to deposit on surfaces during rain and could bring hazy skies; temperatures may reach the upper teens in parts of the south. The plume originated from North Africa as Storm Regina moves across Iberia.

What's behind the headline?

The atmospheric sequence

The dust plume has been transported by a south-easterly flow linked to Storm Regina, with the high pressure to the east guiding its northward reach.
The dust particles are fine enough to filter sunlight, creating vivid sunrise and sunset colours, while also leaving a reddish-brown film when rainfall occurs.
This event is likely to be most visible in England and Wales, with notable effects on car surfaces and windows after rain.

What readers should expect

Sky colours will be striking at dawn and dusk, especially in clearer spells.
Surface residues may appear on outdoor objects; a wash is typically sufficient.
No health risk is associated with the dust for the general public, though air quality and visibility may be affected where deposition is heavy.

How we got here

The plume is driven by Storm Regina and a high-pressure system, drawing warm air north from North Africa. This event follows recent Saharan dust transport episodes and is part of the routine late-winter to spring dust transit impacting Europe.

Our analysis

BBC News, The Independent, Sky News, The Independent, BBC News (multi-source weather briefing)

Go deeper

How long will the dust linger in your area?
Will rainfall clear the dust from surfaces more quickly in your region?
Are you seeing notable colour changes in sunsets where you are?