Sahara dust Event Impacts Greece: Visibility Reduced, Health Concerns Raised
A significant influx of Sahara dust is affecting Greece, causing reduced visibility and prompting health advisories. Teh phenomenon began on Saturday, February 15th, and is expected too gradually dissipate by monday, February 17th.
Current Situation:
As of Sunday, February 15th, visibility has been severely reduced in many areas, dropping to as low as a few hundred meters in cities like Komotini. Similar events were observed in 2024 and 2025, especially in Crete and southern regions of Greece. The current dust cloud is impacting air quality across the country.
Forecast:
According to forecasts from AtmoHub, the Dust Regional model, and Copernicus CAMS, peak concentrations of dust are occurring during the late morning and afternoon of Sunday, February 15th. A frontal system is expected to move through the region this evening, shifting winds and bringing wetter air. This will result in “dirty rain” (mud rain) which will help to deposit the dust and improve visibility by Monday morning,February 17th. https://www.meteoweb.eu/meteo/grecia/sabbia-sahariana-grecia-visibilita-ridotta-e-piogge-sporche-in-arrivo_1001897630
Health impacts and Recommendations:
high concentrations of particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) pose a health risk, particularly for vulnerable individuals. It is recommended that people wiht asthma, respiratory illnesses, or cardiovascular conditions limit outdoor physical activity and remain indoors during the peak of the event.
The following precautions are advised:
* Limit outdoor activity: Reduce strenuous activity outdoors.
* Stay indoors: keep windows and doors closed to minimize exposure.
* Use masks: Wear high-efficiency particulate filter (HEPA) masks if outdoor exposure is unavoidable.
* Clean surfaces: Thoroughly clean outdoor surfaces after the “dirty rain” to remove deposited dust.
Recent Reports & Additional Information:
recent reports indicate that the dust cloud is widespread across the Eastern Mediterranean. https://www.ertnews.gr/perivallon/sabbia-apo-ti-sahara-epireazei-ti-ellada-me-hamesi-orathitita/
Sources:
* Meteoweb: https://www.meteoweb.eu/meteo/grecia/sabbia-sahariana-grecia-visibilita-ridotta-e-piogge-sporche-in-arrivo_1001897630
* ERT News: https://www.ertnews.gr/perivallon/sabbia-apo-ti-sahara-epireazei-ti-ellada-me-hamesi-orathitita/
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