Home / Editor's Pick /

Snow melt exacerbated: Saharan dust coats the Alps

10:00
20 July 2024

Snow melt exacerbated
Saharan dust coats the Alps

In many regions of the Alps, it currently looks like Mars as Saharan dust arrives.

The dust has been arriving for weeks now, being transported to the Alps by southerly winds, turning the snow in to a yellowish-brown colour.

As more of the sand and dust particles land on the snow, the faster snow and ice melts due to the absorption of greater amounts of heat from the sun.

Temperature map of the Alpine mountains showing high heat for the weekend.It remains warm this weekend over the Alps, exacerbating snow and ice melt.

As the snow melts, alpine streams and rivers are being fed by greater amounts of melting water than before.

Combined with heavy rain, this can lead to flooding events, as has occurred in parts of Switzerland over the past weeks,

Saharan dust regularly travels north into Europe, occasionally reaching the UK and Ireland.

How to use the AQI featureread more
Weather & Radar editorial team
More on the topic
Tuesday 1 July 2025

Not just the UK

Heatwave grips continental Europe
Sunday 6 July 2025

Your weather - Your shots

Shining summer clouds light the night
Monday 23 June 2025

Gusts of up to 45 mph

Wind warnings start the week
All weather news
This might also interest you
Tuesday 1 July 2025

Breakfast brief

Heat reaches a peak, cloudy in places
Thursday 3 July 2025

Gusty too

Rainfall passes through the north
Wednesday 2 July 2025

Isolated strikes here

Storms across Europe mostly miss UK
All articles
Weather & Radar

www.weatherandradar.ie

facebooktwitteryouTubeContact uslinkList
Privacy Policy | Legal info | Accessibility statement