UK Weather Alert 'Blood Rain': The UK is experiencing “blood rain” due to Saharan dust mixing with heavy rainfall from Atlantic weather systems.
UK sees red ‘blood rain’ as Saharan dust mixes with heavy showers. Know causes, sky color change, forecast and health impact details.
UK Weather Alert 'Blood Rain': This week, parts of the United Kingdom experience their first instance of rare weather conditions because heavy rainfall systems combine with Saharan dust that travels throughout Europe. The phenomenon, which people commonly refer to as "blood rain," has created both interest and worry among observers.
Blood rain describes precipitation that falls from the sky in red or brown hues. The name of this phenomenon sounds terrifying, yet it consists of rainwater that contains particles of reddish dust instead of actual blood.
Dust from the Sahara Desert usually produces the red tint that people observe. The desert wind system enables strong winds to elevate tiny sand particles into the sky. The atmospheric dust combines with rain clouds, which results in reddish or muddy rain.
The UK currently deals with rain and wind conditions that result from Atlantic low-pressure systems. European countries experience Saharan dust, which has entered from the north, while rain showers continue to fall.
During sunrise and sunset times, dust particles scatter sunlight, which creates orange and red hazy sky effects.
The Atlantic Ocean brings continuous low-pressure systems, which deliver strong winds and heavy rain to multiple areas.
Dust from the Sahara Desert will arrive in the UK two to four days after major North African dust storms occur. The forecast models show that dust will appear intermittently during times of rainy weather.
The UK experiences both reddish rain and extreme sky conditions, which occur when Saharan dust combines with rain systems in the atmosphere. The visual display creates an impressive effect that most people can safely view, except for individuals with breathing difficulties who need to avoid dusty environments.
