African dust: Ministry of Health guidelines for precautionary measures – When will the skies clear?

Several areas of the country remain covered by a veil of African dust, including Athens, with the atmosphere being stifling and visibility limited.

The African dust, which has created an explosive cocktail for residents, will remain in the atmosphere until at least midday on Wednesday. “Minerva red”, as the phenomenon is called, will then begin to subside.

The Ministry of Health urges to keep doors, balcony doors and windows closed

Instructions of the Ministry of Health

The Ministry of Health, following the regularly scheduled update by the Ministry of Environment and Energy (last update today at 8:00) and within the framework of its responsibilities for the protection of public health, recommends the following instructions for informing the public with precautionary measures as following:

A. Recommendations for people at increased risk

• People with respiratory problems
• heart patients,
• children as well
• people over 65 years old

they should avoid any physical exercise-activity outdoors.

It is also recommended to avoid staying outdoors, especially in areas with increased traffic.

People with asthma may need more frequent inhalations of reliever medicine. If symptoms persist, it is recommended to contact the attending physician.

B. Recommendations to the general population

Every person is advised to avoid any physical exercise outdoors and to limit the time spent outdoors especially in areas with increased traffic.

During his stay indoors, doors, balcony doors and windows should be kept closed.

When will the sky clear?

EMY notes that the transport of African dust that affects our country gradually since the morning has started to decrease. It should be noted, however, that a significant decrease in concentrations is predicted from midday onwards, when it will be limited to the east.

In the west and north of the mainland, clouds are predicted to temporarily increase with a few local rains. Isolated storms will develop in the northwest during the early morning hours and again during the night hours. In the rest of the country, sparse clouds, occasionally thicker.

Winds in the eastern island country will initially blow southeast 7 to 8, but will quickly weaken and turn to south southwest 3 to 5 and in the south 6 local to 7 Beaufort. In the rest of the areas, 4 to 6 Beaufort winds will blow from the west. The temperature will drop slightly mainly in the west.

Today Wednesday, as winds shift from southerly to westerly, the dust will shift further east

According to MEGA meteorologist Christina Rigou, the dust will move further east today. Small concentrations are expected in the east and south, where hazy weather and clouds will prevail. Clouds are predicted in the Ionian and continental areas but also more periods of sunshine compared to the previous days. The rains will generally be limited, in the central and northern mountains during the day, small and local.

In the evening hours, however, it will rain in the northwest, the northern Ionian Sea, Epirus and western Macedonia, and late at night there will be sporadic storms.

The temperature in some areas will drop and in others it will rise, but in general it will not change significantly. At noon it will reach 20-23 degrees in the west, 25 in the north, 26 in the eastern continental areas, 26 in the southern Aegean. Until 21 – 23 in Cyclades and eastern Aegean.

Crete is also affected to a particularly large extent

Crete was and is affected to a particularly large extent by the transport of African dust.

The phenomenon, according to the Region of Crete, is registered by the four installed stations of the “SCHEDIA” Network on the island where PM 10 particle load measurements are carried out, in the city of Chania, Akrotiri Chania, the city of Heraklion and Finokalia Lasithi. In P.E. In Chania the measurements are carried out by the Technical University of Crete, while in Heraklion and Lassithi by the University of Crete.

As reported, the cloud of dust moves from west to east and gradually affects the whole island, while the maximum dust concentrations observed yesterday in Chania were particularly high, while in Heraklion the maximum value was lower (average hourly values).

According to the forecast models, by the end of the day the situation in Crete will have calmed down

Today, Wednesday, the phenomenon is strongly affecting the PE of Heraklion and towards noon it will also affect the PE of Lasithi. According to the forecast models, by the end of the day the situation in Crete will have calmed down.

The Department of Public Health, after receiving the latest measurements from the Department of Environment, informs that immediate measures are required to protect Public Health. More specifically, people at increased risk, people with respiratory problems, heart patients, children, as well as people over the age of 65 should avoid any physical exercise-activity outdoors. Also, the Directorate of Public Health recommends avoiding staying outdoors, especially in areas with increased traffic. Additionally, people with asthma may need more frequent inhalations of reliever medicine. If the symptoms persist, it is pointed out that it is recommended to contact the attending physician.

As far as the general population is concerned, it is recommended that every person avoid all physical exercise outdoors and limit the time spent outdoors especially in areas with increased traffic. High protection FFP2 & KN95 masks, since they retain particles ≥0.3 µm in size, can protect those who need to be active outdoors.

EMY: The weather by region

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.

ATTICA

Weather: Partly cloudy.
Winds: West Northwest 4 to 5 Beaufort.
Temperature: From 14 to 24 degrees Celsius.

THESSALONIKI
Weather: A few clouds temporarily increased.
Winds: Variable 3 to 4 Beaufort.
Temperature: From 11 to 22 degrees Celsius.

FORECAST FOR TOMORROW THURSDAY

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.