Main points
- Over the next two days, air flows will not contribute to the spread of dust from the Sahara to the territory of Ukraine.
- On April 16, a westerly movement of air masses is possible, which could change the situation.
Will Sahara dust reach Ukraine / Collage of Channel 24
A small amount of dust is currently being transported in the air over the Mediterranean Sea towards southern Italy. This could potentially cause dust from the Sahara to reach Ukraine.
The details of the situation were reported by the Ukrhydrometeorological Center, analyzing EUMETSAT satellite data.
Is there a threat of desert dust for Ukraine?
Experts noted that over the next two days, northwestern air flows will prevail over our country, which will not contribute to the spread of dust from the Sahara Desert to the territory of Ukraine.
For reference! The Sahara is the largest desert in the world, located in North Africa. The area of the Sahara is over 9 million kilometers. It is worth noting that the desert emits from 60 to 200 million tons of mineral dust per year. Most of it quickly settles, but sometimes it reaches Europe, Latin America and even the USA.
At the same time, on April 16, the movement of air masses will change to the westerly direction. This may create the prerequisites for the appearance of a small amount of dust from the Sahara in the far west of Ukraine.
However, the possible concentrations will be low and will not have a noticeable impact on air quality,
– emphasized the Ukrhydrometeorological Center.
They also noted that they continue to monitor the situation and promptly inform about possible changes.
Movement of air masses over the Mediterranean Sea: see satellite data studied by the Ukrhydrometeorological Center
We will remind you that a similar threat has threatened Ukrainian lands before. In particular, in the spring of 2024, dust from the Sahara reached Kyiv. At that time, the Kyiv City State Administration warned that African dust was dangerous for children, the elderly, and people with respiratory diseases. Ukrainians were recommended to limit their walks, close windows, and drink plenty of water.
What will the weather be like in Ukraine in the near future?
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On the night of April 14, frosts on the soil surface are forecasted in the range of 0… +5 degrees, which corresponds to the yellow danger level. On the Right Bank, a cold snap of 0 to 3 degrees Celsius is expected with an orange level, which may cause damage to early-flowering trees.
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At the same time, the head of the Cherkasy Regional Center for Hydrometeorology, Vitaliy Postryhan, noted that according to European forecast models, the second half of the week may be warmer than the climatic norm.