Dust from Sahara tints Spanish skies red

By Alyssa McMurtry

OVIEDO, Spain (AA) - A Saharan dust cloud blanketed the Iberian Peninsula on Tuesday, tinting skies across Spain and Portugal a surreal tone of red.

On Monday, when the Saharan dust first entered the southern part of Spain, the orange hue was almost neon.

By Tuesday, residents across the peninsula woke up to sepia skies and a layer of dust coating the cities and countryside. The dust cloud continues to push north and could make its way up to the UK as soon as Wednesday.

Jorge Olcina, president of the Spanish Geographers Association (AGE), told Spanish news agency EFE that this is an “exceptional event,” one which hasn’t been seen in Spain “for decades.”

The dust is being pushed forward by storm Celia, which is bringing heavy but much-needed rain to Spain. In some areas, the dust has mixed with precipitation, turning rain into mud.

Meanwhile, particle pollution has brought Spain’s air quality to dangerous levels. In much of the country, authorities are advising people to wear masks outdoors and avoid exercise.