Saharan Dust Set to Hit Czechia: Air Quality Deteriorates

The Czech Republic is set to experience multiple waves of Saharan dust, which will remain suspended in the atmosphere until Easter.

Meteorologists warn that this dust intrusion could worsen air quality, trigger respiratory problems, and slightly reduce the expected warm temperatures across the country.

The dust, carried from the Sahara Desert, can cause a visible haze, reduce sky clarity, and lead to so-called “blood rain” — a phenomenon where rainfall carries dust particles, leaving dirty stains on cars, windows, and other surfaces.

At higher concentrations, these fine particles may settle on the ground and, when combined with pollen, significantly worsen symptoms for people with asthma or allergies.

According to meteorologists at Geosphere Austria, the first major dust wave is expected to hit on Tuesday, followed by another on Thursday. The deteriorated air conditions are likely to continue throughout the Easter holidays.

In addition to the health concerns, sunlight will be partly blocked, potentially reducing maximum daytime temperatures by a few degrees.

This atmospheric event is part of a recurring natural phenomenon that occurs during storms or low-pressure systems over North Africa.

Every year, the NASA Earth Observatory reports that winds blow up to 200 million tons of dust from the Sahara into the atmosphere. Under the right meteorological conditions, these particles are lifted into the upper layers of the atmosphere and transported thousands of kilometers, often reaching Central Europe.

The Sahara — the world’s largest desert, stretching across ten African countries from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea — is responsible for nearly half of all dust in the Earth’s atmosphere.

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