Photos from France showed orange skies above low snow as the sand wind from the Sahara, known as sirocco, pulled through Europe weeks earlier than expected.
While photos of the surrealist scenes flooded social media on Saturday, the French are actually quite used to the annual phenomenon: the sand wind is “not extremely rare,” but this is “exceptional” that it is so early in the year, Le Parisien wrote. Sirocco usually arrives in April, and this leads to a rise in temperatures as it passes.
The south and southeast of France are reportedly affected the most so far, but the orange sky will also spread across the rest of the country on Saturday.
A strong flow from the south will take place on Friday and Saturday, giving spring temperatures but also making an important concentration of Saharan poachers. Council, present before lowering your car! Sable showers are likely on Saturday! pic.twitter.com/DJLU3tVGaS
– Lyon Meteo (@ LyonMeteo69) February 4, 2021
Social media users flocked to Twitter to post aerial photos, featuring some of the most breathtaking shots showing the desert aura above snowy landscapes.
Awesome repair of #sabel du sahara ce matin à #dijon. Selon @skironforecast avec 2800 mgr de poussières par m2, nous avions la meme same de sable qu’au Chad auj à 10h UTC 🤗🏜 pic.twitter.com/Kz0ygjgiF2
– Marie and the Economy (@MorlotMarie) 6 February 2021
Videos have even shown that some ski slopes have changed into “Mars landscapes” as sand covered the ice and snow.
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Photos also showed parts of Switzerland affected by the sand.
The meteorologist Paul Marquis told France Bleu that the arrival of sirocco is in early February instead of April “proof” of climate change.
However, the wind is not bad, but the exhaust valve reports that the sand “nourishes the soil” and is “very good news” for “vegetable gardens.”
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