A HUGE cloud of Saharan dust is blowing towards Worcester as it moves out of Africa towards the Atlantic and could arrive in the city 'in days'.

The Met Office shared a spectacular image of the dust cloud on X (formerly Twitter), some of which is expected to reach UK shores very soon.

We have reported on the phenomenon before and the deposits of dust left on cars in the city when it arrives. 

 

 

A tweet from the Met Office said: "This amazing image captures a plume of Saharan dust moving out of Africa and into the Atlantic Some of this dust will make it's way towards us over the coming days."

A spokesperson for the Met Office said: "As in other parts of the world, the wind can blow strongly over deserts - whipping up dust and sand high into the sky. If the winds in the upper part of the atmosphere are blowing north, the dust can be carried as far as the UK.

"Once it is lifted from the ground by strong winds, clouds of dust can reach very high altitudes and be transported worldwide, covering thousands of miles.

"In order for the dust to get from up in the sky down to the ground, you need something to wash it out of the sky - rain.  As raindrops fall, they collect particles of dust on the way down. Then when the raindrops land on something and eventually evaporate, they leave behind a layer of dust."