Don't wash your cars: Sahara sand returns this Friday to France, accompanied by storms

Le sable du Sahara transporté dans l'air donne une teinte orangée à l'air ambiant, créant une atmosphère sepia. Image d'illustration Unsplash

The sand from the Sahara should return to France from this weekend, due to a cold drop that will transport the desert sand. Thunderstorms should also break out, especially in the south of the country.

No need to wash your cars or do a big clean on your terraces this Thursday, June 6, they could quickly be dirty by the sand from the Sahara that is returning from Friday, especially in Occitanie.

We are now used to this recurring meteorological phenomenon, which brings dust from the desert, transported by winds that cross the Mediterranean.

Thunderstorms expected at the end of the week

This Friday, June 7, the precipitation announced by Météo France therefore risks being loaded with these particles. As shown in the map shared by meteorologist Guillaume Séchet on X, the South of France should be particularly affected.

🟤 La remontée de l'air #chaud sur le sud de la France va aussi s'accompagner de poussières de #sable venues du #Sahara, notamment dès le vendredi 7 juin 2024. (carte SKIRON) pic.twitter.com/29B4OmX9s6

— Guillaume Séchet (@Meteovilles) June 4, 2024

This movement of particles is in fact part of a context of stormy degradation, which could also be quite marked in the south, as evidenced by the projections from the French Keraunos storm observatory.

🌩️Une dégradation orageuse se confirme pour la fin de la semaine. Même si le détail de cet épisode est encore incertain, le contexte sera propice à des orages parfois forts, avec fortes pluies et grêle. A suivre dans le bulletin à moyen terme : https://t.co/oKJo7RyxzW pic.twitter.com/Xwr6Befy4S

— Keraunos (@KeraunosObs) June 4, 2024

As explained Le Parisien, this new rise of sand from the Sahara is due to a cold drop phenomenon , a mass of cool air contained in a mass of hot air, which acts like a heat pump. The movement of these air masses carries sand particles with it.

The stormy deterioration should begin this Thursday, June 6, since on this date, Météo France places 18 departments on yellow alert.