Dust from the Sahara on Easter or wait for it? European climatologists gave a forecast.

Preparing for Easter is a traditional activity for Ukrainian hostesses. They clean their homes and wash their windows. But how will the weather conditions affect these habits? Climatologists from Europe and the World Meteorological Organization spoke about this, reports 'Glavkom'. According to climatologist Anita Bokva from Jagiellonian University, dust masses from the Sahara occasionally reach Europe due to strong winds and changes in weather. A thin layer of dust may appear on windows and cars. 'There is nothing new in this; although we notice it more today. Such phenomena were observed before, but we didn't pay as much attention to them. Today we have more information and means of monitoring it. Therefore, it is always useful to wash windows. However, weather conditions are constantly changing, so it is worth keeping an eye on forecasts. Everything can change in a few days,' the climatologist said. In 2023, a similar phenomenon was also observed in Ukraine, and it may repeat this year. Dust from the Sahara moves through the Mediterranean Sea and southern Italy to central and southeastern Europe. An increase in dust concentration is expected on April 16, especially in Italy, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, as well as in some regions of Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania. This may worsen air quality and lead to the formation of dust deposits, which are often referred to as 'blood rain'. Currently, no significant increase in dust concentration in the air is expected in Ukraine. The climatologist warned that Saharan dust can negatively affect health, especially for people with allergies or respiratory diseases. Increased levels of particles in the air may exacerbate allergy symptoms and respiratory conditions. 'Our lungs do not care where the dust comes from. The main thing is that its concentration is rising,' the climatologist noted. Dust from the Sahara over Europe and Ukraine is a natural and recurring atmospheric phenomenon that can appear every spring under certain conditions. According to the European Commission's report on the state of climate in 2024, the effects of climate change are being felt in Europe. 2024 was recorded as the warmest year, with record temperatures in central, eastern, and southeastern regions. Frequent extreme weather events lead to severe storms and floods that have claimed many lives and caused harm to thousands. Climatological conditions in the east and west were different, with dry and warm conditions in the east and wet conditions in the west. The climatologist warned Ukrainians about new dust storms from the Sahara. Dust from the Sahara that may enter Ukraine is a rare phenomenon, but it obeys the laws of atmospheric circulation. The recurrence of this phenomenon can be expected in the summer.