Who Would have Thought It? Sahara Dust On Cars In Scotland

This year Scotland recently enjoyed an incredible Easter holiday weekend. The sun was splitting the sky and you could soak up the rays. Temperatures may have reached record-breaking levels, but the rise in mercury came with an unexpected side effect. One which may have altered the appearance of your home or the car parked outside. By chance, had you looked at your vehicle after the Easter break and noticed something unusual? Is there a possibility you may have spotted an interesting new coat on the finish?

There may be red coloured dirt or dust on the bumper which wasn’t there before, and you may wonder where it came from. The solution may be further afield than you think.

It may be hard to believe, but your car in Scotland may have been covered in dirt from, of all places, Africa. Specifically, the Sahara desert.

You may be thinking how on earth can dust from the Sahara end up on my car? The striking red dust is often referred to as `blood rain` as it falls from the sky. The dust was carried in the air and came down in overnight showers. It was brought to the UK by strong winds at high altitude and carried by a southerly airflow.

It is not uncommon to have strong winds in the desert, which can blow dust and sand into the sky. There are many instances where the wind in the upper atmosphere can travel in a northerly direction, taking the dust as far as the UK.

The dust falls from the sky as rain droplets from clouds. When raindrops fall, they gather dust on the way, and when they land the water dries, leaving a dust residue.

The phenomenon caused dust to form beautiful sunrises and sunsets as well as leaving traces of red dusts on homes and vehicles. It may seem strange, but it is quite commonplace to find dust from the Sahara in the United Kingdom.

So, if you notice a sprinkling of red dust or sand on your car, before taking it to the valet, you might know where to look. Just turn to the Sahara and marvel at how far it may have come.