The storm that will reach us in a few hours will bring not only unstable weather but also Saharan dust, which will particularly affect the Balearic Islands on Saturday.
The arrival of a storm does not always result in precipitation. In this case, many parts of Spain will experience rain, while other regions will see little precipitation.
The position of a low-pressure system in relation to a specific area is crucial for understanding the meteorological phenomena it can produce. The current low-pressure system is located off the west coast of the peninsula and, due to its cyclonic motion, is pumping Saharan dust eastward toward the Balearic Islands.
The storm will propel a large cloud of dust into the atmosphere. To understand why Spain, especially the Balearic Islands, is experiencing suspended dust from North Africa, it is important to consider the current atmospheric configuration.
It is important to note that storms in our hemisphere exhibit a cyclonic rotation, meaning they rotate counterclockwise around their center. The center of the affected low-pressure system will be located off the Portuguese coast, putting us in the front, most active area of the storm, which also explains the storms that will occur during the bridge day.
Due to the storm’s movement, southerly winds will blow along this eastern edge, originating from the Sahara Desert, lifting particulate matter and transporting it northward. Starting today, the skies will appear “polluted” in many parts of our country.
Cloudy skies in the Balearic Islands due to haze
This hazy episode begins today, Wednesday. Currently, the concentration of Saharan dust is increasing in parts of the south and southeast and will continue to develop and intensify over the next few hours.
Tomorrow, there will be significantly more suspended particulate matter in parts of the Valencian Community, eastern Andalusia, and the Balearic archipelago, although concentrations will still be lower than forecast for Saturday.
On Friday, skies will be heavily overcast in parts of the southeast, the Valencian Community, and the Balearic Islands. Cities like Murcia, Valencia, and Ibiza could even experience mudslides, as showers are expected throughout the day. By the end of the day, dust concentrations will already be significant in the Balearic Islands.
On Saturday, cloudy skies are expected in the Balearic Islands. The highest dust concentrations will occur in the first half of the day and will affect all islands. To illustrate the magnitude of this event, cities like Prague and Budapest will experience more haze than Casablanca on Saturday.
Return of the Mudslide
Although there are still a few days to go, the intrusion of dust is already assured. However, it is unclear whether it will rain in the Balearic Islands on Saturday; this possibility remains. Such rain would cause a mudslide that would contaminate everything.
Other regions in the eastern part of the peninsula have a higher probability of precipitation in the coming days, making mudslides very likely there.
