The layer of dust from the North African Sahara desert that covers part of Spain this Tuesday has left a print of orange skiesmud rain and extremely unfavorable air, which have put several areas of the country on alert, including Madrid.
Although it is not the first time that this phenomenon, known as ‘calima’, has occurred in Spain (in fact it is common in parts of the Canary Islands), it has not occurred with this intensity for several decades, which is why experts recommend hydrate, close windows, go out with a mask and limit physical activity outdoors.
Although the arrival of dust in suspension began on Monday in the southeast of Spain, where the episode is more intense, it has spread to part of the Iberian Peninsula and the Mediterranean archipelago of the Balearic Islands.
This phenomenon has left dark skies, tinted in many cases a striking reddish orange, notable layers of dust on houses, sidewalks and cars.
The ‘haze’ has also reached Portugal and parts of Switzerland, where the white of the ski slopes contrasts with a sky of an intense orange color.
On its way north, it is expected to reach Holland and even northwest Germany.
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In Spain, the meteorological phenomenon is expected to reach its highest incidence next Wednesday and remain active until Thursday, so the rainfall may be accompanied by mud again.
In places where rain or snowfall brings dust to the surface, known as ‘wet dust deposition’, it creates mud. This fact has occurred in a town in the Sierra de Madrid, Cercedilla.
In addition, this particular situation, favored by the warm wind of African origin in the ‘Celia’ storm, affects the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands.
However, it has raised temperatures to 20 degrees or more in parts of southeastern Spain, in the middle of winter, according to the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet).
According to data from the Air Quality Index in Spain (ICA), the provinces of Murcia, Alicante, Albacete and Almería (eastern and southeastern Spain) and those of Madrid, Guadalajara, Segovia, Ávila and Burgos (central and central-north ), among others, register an “extremely unfavorable” situation, which in some cases has made visibility difficult.
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In the city of Madrid, the City Council has activated a special device to clean the dirt that has stained sidewalks, vehicles and street furniture orange.
In Valencia (eastern Spain), the storm and the dust tongue have marked the beginning of the celebration of the popular Fallas festival, as the strong wind waves have damaged at least two of the images.
This phenomenon has also forced the traditional pyrotechnic shot, the so-called ‘mascletá’, to be delayed until this Tuesday.
The health implications of breathing this air with small dry particles include an increased likelihood of respiratory and cardiovascular disease.
For this reason, The health authorities recommend the elderly, children and people with respiratory pathologies to monitor the symptoms and take measures such as cleaning the surfaces inside the houses where dust has fallen with a damp cloth.
EFE.
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