By Sophia Gabriele, Y11
On the 6th of February, the sky took on a yellowish-orange tone as a result of desert sands which had blown in from the Sahara (Africa).
This is an annual occurrence in Switzerland and parts of France, typically happening three times a year. This being said, this year the sands arrived particularly early on, appearing in February; they usually only show during spring and autumn. The desert sand is usually not as noticeable as it was this year when the skies looked almost apocalyptic.
The sand originated in the northwest of Africa, mainly coming from areas such as Mauritania, Mali, and Algeria. The sand had been lifted upwards an estimated two to five kilometers into the sky due to weather and wind conditions in these regions. The sand particles were then blown northwards, towards parts of Switzerland and France, carried by the Foehn weather system.
Remnants of the sandstorm are still visible in many areas. In the Alps, for example, an entire layer of sand can be seen in the snow.
