Sky Was All Orange

March 16, 2022 12:25 PM

Saharan dust storm covers Spain, spreads out across Europe [ABC]

Why is the sky orange?
Saharan dust turns skies orange over Europe [CNN]
Saharan dust turns skies and ski slopes in Europe orange – video [Grauniad]
Spanish ski slope [El Transcendental]
Dust Map [University of Athens]

posted by chavenet (18 comments total)

Not normal. I'm told that usually these storms are a summer event. It arrived with rain and fog yesterday.
I live near Granada, and woke up to red dust all over everything outside, made dangerous due to the fact that it was a) a thin coating and b) wet.
posted by Sheydem-tants at 12:54 PM on March 16, 2022 [1 favorite]

Yup. Probably not so dramatic here, but had a yellow sky yesterday in Heidelberg.
posted by Alex404 at 12:59 PM on March 16, 2022 [1 favorite]

I like it. All the sandmud coated cars here look old and neglected now, which is a charming new look for a German town.
posted by Ashenmote at 1:21 PM on March 16, 2022 [5 favorites]

Welcome to the Yellow Sky Club. It's so weirdly effecting. It really made me & I think a lot of people feel off & depressed all day when it happened here. Welcome to the future.
posted by bleep at 1:53 PM on March 16, 2022 [4 favorites]

As someone who lived through much smaller haboob's, I extend my sympathy. Sandstorms aren't like wildfire smoke or smog. They're much grittier and the particulates get into everything.
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 2:22 PM on March 16, 2022 [3 favorites]

Been seeing tons of photos on Reddit from across all of Southern Europe, even as far east as Austria.
posted by briank at 3:23 PM on March 16, 2022 [1 favorite]

Does this mean that France is getting some more of its radiation back from the Gerboise Bleue weapon test in Algeria?
posted by scruss at 5:12 PM on March 16, 2022 [1 favorite]

FYI that dust map doesn't load well on mobile browsers. I can see it on the desktop.
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 6:25 PM on March 16, 2022 [1 favorite]

I've lost track; which seal of Revelation are we on now?
posted by Halloween Jack at 9:11 PM on March 16, 2022 [4 favorites]

I've lost track; which seal of Revelation are we on now?

I believe we're waiting for Wormwood at this point, but thankfully it's late.
posted by loquacious at 9:54 PM on March 16, 2022 [2 favorites]

Interestingly near the equinox.
posted by jamjam at 10:21 PM on March 16, 2022 [3 favorites]

Can report it came at least as far as South Holland.
posted by domdib at 5:13 AM on March 17, 2022 [2 favorites]

Definitely happened in London.
posted by Optamystic at 5:17 AM on March 17, 2022 [2 favorites]

We had orange skies yesterday evening here in Indy, but it was because we were burning-down a Walmart distribution warehouse west of the city.
posted by Thorzdad at 5:25 AM on March 17, 2022 [2 favorites]

Didn’t notice it too much in Paris yesterday but parked cars are orangey brown today.
posted by ellieBOA at 8:23 AM on March 17, 2022 [1 favorite]

I believe we're waiting for Wormwood at this point, but thankfully it's late.


No, it's just in Chicago
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 8:34 AM on March 17, 2022 [2 favorites]

I believe we're waiting for Wormwood at this point, but thankfully it's late.

Wormwood happened in 1986.
posted by Spathe Cadet at 9:03 AM on March 17, 2022 [2 favorites]

I live in London but wasn't there on Wednesday. I had travelled 63km north for the day and didn't see any orange sky, however, when I got back my boat was covered in orange dust. (and still is)
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 4:30 AM on March 18, 2022