A cloud of sand from the Sahara is predicted for the weekend of April 6 and 7 in France. This weather phenomenon will cause increased heat as well as potential air pollution, which may have health implications. The sand from the Sahara, transported by southern winds, will therefore invade the French sky, temporarily tinting the landscape in orange ocher, reports TF1 Info. Expected to begin on Saturday and intensify on Sunday, this sand cloud is expected to affect several regions, with precipitation in the West which will help it fall to the ground.
This phenomenon, which occurs regularly between February and May, results from the lifting of sand particles in the Sahara, then transported in the atmosphere to Europe, according to Vincent Guidard researcher at Météo-France, interviewed by France Info. The latter details: “And by dint of being lifted and falling, grains of sand break into smaller pieces of dust. »
Recommendations for vulnerable people
In addition to its visual impact on the sky, this sand cloud presents health risks. The fine particles it transports can, in fact, affect air quality, particularly in Ile-de-France where a deterioration is expected for the weekend. Antoine Trouche, engineer at Airparif, emphasized to our colleagues: “These particles of less than ten micrometers in diameter are capable of crossing the natural barriers that we have, particularly in the nose, and therefore, of entering the lungs. . »
Bruno Mégarbane, head of the intensive care unit at Lariboisière hospital, recommends that susceptible people take precautions, such as avoiding intense physical activities and limiting outings during peak hours near major roads. However, he wants to be reassuring: “No need to stay locked up at home with the doors and windows closed. »