CAMS says red dust mixing with rainfall could colour showers across southern England
Met Office forecasts continued wet weather until mid-March
Scientists from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) have warned that parts of the United Kingdom could witness a rare weather event known as “blood rain.” Experts say a vast cloud of red dust from the Sahara Desert is moving across Europe and may reach the UK within days.
According to reports, persistent rainfall has affected several regions of the UK in recent weeks, with some areas recording near-daily showers this year. As a result, the arrival of Saharan dust could mix with ongoing rain and give it a reddish appearance. Although the term “blood rain” sounds alarming, scientists stress that the phenomenon poses no threat to human health.
Experts explain atmospheric movement
Senior CAMS scientist Mark Parrington said the dust plume will likely travel through the upper atmosphere over southern England. He added that the dust could arrive by Tuesday and remain present for approximately two hours during the afternoon.
Furthermore, the British newspaper Daily Mail reported that seasonal biomass burning in parts of Africa may also contribute to elevated smoke and particle levels in the atmosphere. Strong desert winds lift fine sand and dust high into the air. Consequently, when upper-level winds blow northward, they transport these particles thousands of kilometres toward Europe and the UK.
Meanwhile, the UK Met Office confirmed that unsettled weather conditions will likely persist until mid-March. Therefore, continued rainfall could increase the visibility of red-tinted showers in affected regions.
