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The Alhambra in Granada, Spain, is a World Heritage Site – but you can hardly see it these days.
Vast amounts of dust from the Sahara blew from Africa to Europe as a result of a low-pressure system.
Photo: Carlos Gil/Getty Images
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First wash the car: In Spain, the phenomenon of the desert dust migrating over is called »calima« or »lluvia de sangre«, which translates to »blood rain«.
Because the dust is actually accompanied by precipitation.
But this time it didn't happen.
Photo: Europa Press News / Europa Press via Getty Images
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There were still wonderful pictures, like here from Madrid.
However, the weather phenomenon is not entirely harmless: Madrid Mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida, like many doctors, warned of the poor air quality.
Photo: Susana Vera / REUTERS
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Doctors warn against outdoor activities, especially older citizens, small children and people with heart and respiratory problems are at risk.
Photo:
Alex Cámara / dpa
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The dust is a nuisance for shopkeepers and house owners whose driveways and courtyards are dirty.
Photo: Susana Vera / REUTERS
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In the corona crisis, masks are mandatory in many places, this man uses them to protect himself from the persistent dust in Madrid.
Photo: Susana Vera / REUTERS
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But not only in Spain does the weather phenomenon provide for spectacular pictures.
In Switzerland, a yellow blanket settled over the white mountains.
Photo: Urs Flueeler / EPA
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The sky also shone in unusual colors in Lucerne, Switzerland.
Photo: Urs Flueeler / EPA
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Spanish meteorologists said that "Calima" had not been this strong in decades.
The phenomenon should continue for two or three days.
Photo: LAURENT GILLIERON / EPA
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Desert dust on a Autobahn in the Lower Allgäu is also not an everyday occurrence.
But there are "50, 60 mostly smaller events per year over Germany," said the German Weather Service.
Most events, however, would go unnoticed.
Photo: IMAGO / IMAGO/MiS
hba/dpa