However yesterday the increased concentrations of dust in the atmosphere created an orange veil that covered the entire country creating an eerie scene. At the same time, there was also an increase in the number of patients with respiratory problems in hospitals, with pulmonologists recommending caution and limiting movement for vulnerable groups.
As can be seen in photos and videos from Attica, an orange veil covered the basin yesterday, with the area around the Parliament and the Acropolis covered in dust.
The situation in Messinia and especially in the city of Kalamata it was suffocating, with the images reminding… Libya.
The situation was difficult in its regions as well Iliaswith African dust obscuring the sky, as seen from images in its port Come onon her beach Carrots and in its area Sugary.
Landscape in the fog and at Chania with the African dust being intense and the atmosphere stifling. In fact, today the mercury in the city exceeded 35 degrees Celsius.
According to the director of EMY, Thodori Kolydasthe African dust will begin to recede from Wednesday morning, characterizing the dust cocktail with high temperatures as “thirty-dirty”.
The African dust storm as captured by satellite
New satellite images show the extent of its phenomenon African dust which completely drowned Greece. Satellite data from the American NASA Aqua satellite that passed over our country on Tuesday morning, show in particular in high resolution the intense wave of African dust “Minerva red» that took place in the Eastern Mediterranean region affecting Greece to a very large extent.
The shallow low in the Sirte area moving towards Greece carried very large amounts of African dust making the air quality very difficult, composing an eerie scene with a red sky.
Apart from the African dust, very high temperatures were recorded in areas of Southern Greece and especially in Crete, where the highest temperature was recorded in Falasarna of Chania with a value of 36.6°C.
Figure 1. Satellite image from NASA’s AQUA satellite on the morning of Tuesday, April 23, 2024 shows the intense African dust wave that took place in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Figure 2. Maximum temperatures in Greece on April 23, 2024 from the network of automatic weather stations of meteo.gr/E.A.A.
The wave of African Minerva Red dust has not only affected Greece. It is recalled that air traffic was suspended in eastern Libya yesterday due to a strong sandstorm coming from the Sahara, which was also the reason why public services and educational institutions were temporarily closed, according to local authorities.
A problem was created at all airports in the regionnotably at Benina in Benghazi where the runway had been covered by a thick layer of sand.
The weather today
Initially, improved weather is expected across the country. Concentrations of Saharan dust in the atmosphere will be increased, but progressively the dust will move further east and be limited over the Aegean. In the evening hours, rains will occur in the Ionian and Epirus, phenomena that will extend to areas of Macedonia, Western Thessaly, Western Mainland and Northwestern Peloponnese during the night to Thursday.
THE temperature will range in Western Macedonia from 4 to 21 degrees, in the rest of northern Greece from 8 to 25 degrees, in Epirus from 8 to 23 degrees, in Thessaly from 8 to 26, in the rest of the mainland from 12 to 25-27 degrees, in the Ionian Islands from 13 to 24, in the island parts of the Northern, Central and Eastern Aegean from 15 to 25 degrees and in Crete and the Dodecanese from 18 to 26 degrees Celsius.
The winds in the Aegean they will blow from western directions with intensities of 4-5 Beaufort and locally 6 Beaufort. In the Ionian, northwesterly winds will blow with intensities of 4-5 Beaufort, but progressively in the Northern Ionian they will turn to southwesterlies with the same intensities. A westerly current with intensities of up to 6 Beaufort will prevail in Corinthiakos.
MACEDONIA, THRACE
Weather: In Western Macedonia temporarily increased cloudiness with rain and possibly isolated rain in the mountains until the morning hours and gradual improvement. Few clouds in the rest of the areas. From the evening again in the west the weather will worsen.
Winds: West southwest 3 to 4 and in the east in the early morning hours 5 to 6 Beaufort.
Temperature: From 11 to 22 degrees Celsius. In western Macedonia 3 to 4 degrees lower.
IONIAN ISLANDS, EPIROS, WESTERN Mainland, WESTERN PELOPONNISE
Weather: Intermittently increased clouds in the mainland with the possibility of local rains mainly in the mountains and in the early morning hours isolated storms in the northwest. From the evening and from the west the clouds will increase again and at night in the northwest there will be local rain and isolated storms.
Winds: West northwest 4 to 5 and temporary in the morning in the Ionian locally 6 Beaufort. In the evening in the north they will turn to southwest 3 to 4 Beaufort.
Temperature: From 12 to 21 degrees Celsius. In the interior of Epirus 3 to 5 degrees lower.
EASTERN STEREA, EVIA, EASTERN PELOPONNISOS
Weather: Scattered clouds, denser at times.
Winds: Westerlies 4 to 5 and locally 6 Beaufort with weakening in the evening.
Temperature: From 13 to 23 degrees Celsius.
CYCLADES, CRETE
Weather: Partly cloudy.
Winds: Westerly 4 to 6 Beaufort and in the east in the morning southeast 7 to 8 Beaufort.
Temperature: From 15 to 22 degrees Celsius.
EAST AEGEAN ISLANDS – DODECANISE
Weather: Partly cloudy.
Winds: South southeast 6 to 7 and in the Dodecanese locally 8 Beaufort, but will quickly weaken to 4 to 6 Beaufort and locally in the southernmost parts of the Dodecanese up to 7 Beaufort.
Temperature: From 15 to 22 and in the south up to 24 degrees Celsius.
THESSALY
Weather: Scattered clouds at intervals thicker with the possibility of local rains in the midday – afternoon in the mountains.
Winds: From west directions 3 to 4 Beaufort and until noon in the Sporades southeast with the same intensity.
Temperature: From 09 to 20 degrees Celsius.
THESSALONIKI
Weather: A few clouds temporarily increased.
Winds: Variable 3 to 4 Beaufort.
Temperature: From 11 to 22 degrees Celsius.
ATTICA
Weather: Partly cloudy.
Winds: West Northwest 4 to 5 Beaufort.
Temperature: From 14 to 24 degrees Celsius.
FORECAST FOR TOMORROW THURSDAY 04-25-2024
Clouds with local rains and sporadic storms are expected initially in the Ionian Sea, Epirus, Macedonia and gradually in the rest of the western and northern country. Snowfall will occur in the western and northern continental highlands (at an altitude above 1500 meters). The phenomena from the afternoon hours will weaken and the weather will improve.
In the rest of the country, a few clouds at intervals increased with local rain in the midday and afternoon hours in Thessaly and the rest of the mainland, mainly mountainous.
Visibility in the morning and evening hours will be limited in places, mainly in the east.
Winds will blow in the west westerlies 3 to 5 and in the south local 6 Beaufort. In the east, south southwesterlies that will gradually turn to west 4 to 5 and in the south local 6 Beaufort.
The temperature will fall. It will reach 16 to 18 in the northwest, 19 to 22 degrees Celsius in the rest of the mainland as well as in the island country.
FORECAST FOR FRIDAY 04-26-2024
Generally clear weather. In the midday and afternoon hours, clouds will develop in the continental areas and there will be local rains or showers in the western and northern mainly mountainous areas.
Visibility in the morning and evening hours will be limited in places mainly in the west.
Winds to the west will blow from west directions 3 to 4 Beaufort. In the east, they will blow from north directions 3 to 5 and in the southeast Aegean temporarily up to 6 Beaufort.
The temperature will rise slightly mainly in the west and north.
FORECAST FOR SATURDAY 04-27-2024
Sparse clouds, in places and at times thicker with the possibility of local rain or showers in the west and north.
The winds will blow from north directions 3 to 5 and in the Aegean local 6 with reinforcement from the evening to 7 Beaufort.
The temperature will not change appreciably.
FORECAST FOR SUNDAY (OF BAIOS) 04-28-2024
Generally clear weather, but clouds will gradually develop in the northeast and later in the rest of the eastern mainland, the Cyclades and Crete. Local rains will occur in the northeast.
Winds will blow from north directions 3 to 5 and in the Aegean 6 to 7 Beaufort.
The temperature will see a slight further rise mainly in the west and south.
