A vast plume of Saharan dust is set to reach the UK this week, creating striking sunrises and sunsets, but also potentially leaving a coating of dust on cars and outdoor surfaces. The fine sand, lifted from the deserts of north Africa, will travel thousands of miles on warm southerly air currents, the Met Office said.
When mixed with rain, the dust can cause 'blood rain', leaving reddish deposits on cars and windows. The Met Office warned: 'The combination of warm air and Saharan dust may lead to some dusty deposits on cars or outdoor surfaces as the frontal rain washes the dust out of the atmosphere overnight into Friday.'
Saharan dust is relatively common in the UK when big dust storms in the Sahara coincide with southerly wind patterns. It can also affect air pollution levels, according to the Met Office. The dust is expected to be in the UK's atmosphere over the next couple of days, coinciding with the warmest day of the year so far on Thursday, when temperatures may reach 19C in southern parts.
Honor Criswick, a Met Office meteorologist, said the band of cloud and rain on Thursday could be heavy at times. 'There should be lots of long sunny periods until that rain starts pushing into the east,' she added. Friday will be cloudier across much of England and Wales with highs of 11-12C, while Northern Ireland and Scotland will get more sunshine. The weekend will bring patchy cloud and some sunshine, with highs of 12-13C on Saturday and 14C on Sunday.
