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ARCHIVED - Batten down the hatches as another wave of Saharan dust is set to cover Spain

ARCHIVED ARTICLE -

Meteorologists expect another calima episode to hit Spain later this week

<span style='color:#780948'>ARCHIVED</span> - Batten down the hatches as another wave of Saharan dust is set to cover Spain

Around this time last year, a wave of Saharan dust blew over southern Spain, turning the sky an eerie orange and covering every surface in a stubborn layer of grit. And this week, according to the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET), another “big episode” of Saharan dust is set to hit the south of the peninsula, although thankfully it won’t be nearly as extreme as in March of 2022.

The cause of the dust cloud, or calima as it’s known in Spanish, is the presence of a DANA storm close to the Canary Islands. This weather front results in the merging of different winds and, together with rising temperatures and southerly breezes, leads to suspended dust from the Sahara being carried to various points in southern Spain.

The particles have already begun descending on the autonomous city of Melilla on Tuesday February 14 but the haze will spread from the middle of the week, reaching its climax on Friday February 17.

Suspended dust, aside from being a nuisance and bathing cars, patios and terraces in a dirty film, can actually be very detrimental to health, especially for vulnerable groups or those with certain underlying medical conditions.

According to the predictions from Meteored, this coming Friday the threshold of 45 µg/m3 of PM10 particles present in the haze could be exceeded in 24 hours, a level that is particularly harmful to the respiratory system and can cause severe eye irritation.

For this reason, the authorities advise anyone with respiratory conditions to avoid spending too much time outside during calima episodes. In addition, wells, exterior containers and any open water storage receptacles and animal bowls should be covered to avoid contamination.

In other news: Could Spain follow Ireland and scrap its Golden Visa scheme?

Image: Ayuntamiento de Mazarrón

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