Blood rain' to hit UK as Saharan dust turns skies orange and red

"Saharan dust is very fine sand particles off the Sahara desert, which get lifted by the wind. The dust of the sand comes down, joins with raindrops, and it leaves a film of sand or dust that is red/brown coloured on surfaces such as cars."

"The particles are known to transform ordinary sunsets into breathtaking spectacles of orange and red hues, but also mix with rainfall to create a distinctive reddish residue."

The UK will experience a spectacular weather event on Thursday as Saharan dust travels northward across Europe toward Britain. Fine particles from the Sahara Desert will be carried by wind, creating dramatic orange and red sunsets and mixing with rainfall to produce distinctive reddish residue on surfaces. This phenomenon, commonly called 'blood rain,' involves no actual blood but rather fine sand particles that create the characteristic coloration. Temperatures are expected to reach 19-20°C, potentially marking the warmest day of 2026 and surpassing the previous high of 18.7°C recorded at Kew Gardens.

Read at www.independent.co.uk