The current weather conditions are conducive to the arrival of sand from the Sahara and to the spread of fine particles. Here are the departments concerned.
While the sun has been there in recent days, the presence of high pressure on the north of the country is conducive to lack of wind and therefore the stagnation of fine grounds on the ground. This Tuesday, March 4, an exceeding of the “information threshold” in fine particles already affects the northern half of the country, according to The weather channel. The Paris region and Hauts-de-France are the most concerned. It should last several days.
“The little dispersive weather conditions will promote the training and the accumulation of particles. The air quality will be average in Ile-de-France with a risk of exceeding information and recommendations”, can be read on the website of the Air Quality Association Association Airparif. In the south, the wind will limit the spread of these particles. This peak of pollution is added to the Pollinic peak, which has lasted for 10 days and which is notably linked to the sweetness of the afternoons.
In addition, a depression located in the Iberian peninsula blows a southeast wind which will raise large amounts of desert dust. The Mediterranean basin will be the most affected by the sand of the Sahara: Hérault, Gard, Bouches-du Rhône essentially. The Pyrénées-Orientales and Aude could also cover with a small ocher sprinkling. The sky will then be able to appear a little more veiled or take a slight yellowish hue. This phenomenon is particularly observable at sunrise and sunset.
These episodes are more and more frequent. They often intervene at this period with the approach of spring. The Copernicus space observatory explains this phenomenon by isolated and punctual mechanisms such as atmospheric circulation changes and drought episodes, promoting the flight of these sediments. You have to be careful since all these particles can cause respiratory discomfort for the most sensitive people, such as asthmatics. Fortunately, the quantities will remain weak to moderate for this episode according to weather.
The sand pollution of the Sahara, like that of fine particles, should be reduced this weekend. The air quality will improve with the return of the rain, which will clean the atmosphere. A significant degradation is, in fact, planned from Friday and will increase until Sunday.