Saharan Dust Storm Sweeps Across France, Raising Climate Concerns

According to Météo France, a sandstorm reached the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region and Languedoc on Sunday, and is expected to hit Corsica and southeastern France on Monday and Tuesday. These violent winds accompanied by Saharan sand dust are becoming more and more frequent in the Hexagon, where the phenomenon has been recorded several times this year, relays France Info.

Changes in atmospheric circulation and long periods of drought favor the frequency of these sandstorms, which have increased in intensity in recent years, observes the European space observatory Copernicus, noting however that these wind episodes occur according to seasons and that spring is well suited to this phenomenon of transporting Saharan dust to Europe.

These very fine sand particles, less than 10 micrometers, can be harmful to human health and in particular cause respiratory discomfort in sensitive people. But the health impacts would be less this time, as the sand dust will fly over Corsica and the southeast at an altitude of over 1,000 meters, according to Copernicus forecasts.