Why Is The Sky Orange And Yellow? | Metro News

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Orange skies have been seen over Europe – particularly in Spain (Picture: Getty Images)

We’re all used to seeing the sky turning varying shades of pink and red in the mornings, and sometimes before the sun goes down – giving us an idea of what weather we can expect.

But there are times when the colour is more unusual – at the moment, for example, people across the UK have reported that the sky has turned orange and yellow – shades we’re not used to seeing when we look up.

There’s a very good reason for it – but just why are we seeing such citrus-y hues in the sky at the moment?

Here’s what’s going on.

Why is the sky orange?

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The reason you may be seeing an orange or yellow sky is because of a sandstorm, which has left parts of Europe coated in a cloud of Saharan dust.

The storm – which has been named Storm Celia – has particularly affected Spain, with Madrid and Murcia among the regions where the sky has turned a particularly vivid shade of orange.

The dust cloud has reached parts of the UK as well as Germany (Picture: Getty / SWNS / AP)

As well as affecting the atmosphere, cars and streets in Madrid were also coated in a layer of red dust – with people in the Spanish capital ordered to wear face masks if they went outside, and avoid such activities as outdoor exercise.

Visibility in the city was also reduced to just 2.5 miles – while other parts of Spain, including Granada and Leon, affected in the same way.

The cloud formed as a result of dust from the Sahara Desert being driven up into the air by Storm Celia, before crossing the Mediterranean to Spain and parts of France.

The Met Office has said that some of it may fall to the ground in the UK, especially in southern areas where rain is forecast.

We can see the #SaharanDust that has pushed across Spain and France, into southeast EnglandWhilst this #dust is mostly about 2km above ground level, some deposits may fall to the ground, especially during today’s rain in southern parts of the UK pic.twitter.com/9mxfcnk8cv

— Met Office (@metoffice) March 16, 2022

Their spokesman Richard Miles told PA: ‘Storm Celia over Spain is indeed pulling a dust cloud up from the Sahara, which could potentially reach as far as the south of the UK.

‘We don’t expect significant impacts – the most likely would be on the cloudscapes at sunset, but as conditions are likely to be generally overcast and wet for much of the day this is unlikely to amount to much. There are no air quality warnings.’

What is Saharan dust?

People in Spain have been advised not to venture outside for exercise (Picture: EPA)

The Met Office explains that Saharan dust is a mix of dust and sand from the North African desert – which can be whipped into the sky if wind blows strongly enough.

This can be carried as far as the UK if the winds in the upper part of the atmosphere are blowing in a northerly direction.

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While rain will clear the dust from the sky, a layer of dust will be left behind when raindrops land on an object and then evaporate.

While this won’t be dangerous for most people, the dust could be harmful for those who suffer from asthma and other allergies – as the particles can contain potential allergens and pollutants, which can have a negative effect on air quality.

Arrow MORE: UK storms: How to make sure you have the right kind of property cover

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