Strange weather phenomenon appearing in Ireland this week

By Katy Thornton

People across Munster have reported of dusty rainfall covering their cars.

While Ireland experiences the nicest weather it has had since June, with temperatures soaring to the mid-20s, Munster has been dealing with a strange phenomenon - Saharan dust. Alan O'Reilly of Carlow Weather has been documenting the Saharan dust cloud on his X (formerly Twitter) account, predicting that showers occurring in the South and West will result in dusty rain.

A few stations gone over 27c now and high resolution satellite image shows a mainly clear sky over Ireland earlier today. However if you look to the South you can see the system steering up the Warmer air and carried with it is Saharan dust. Dust will move over Ireland over… pic.twitter.com/1xEysl5Lkr

— Carlow Weather (@CarlowWeather) September 4, 2023

Many Irish people, particularly in Munster, have been taking to social media to share images of their cars covered in the strange dusty rainfall. So what has the dust travelling so far? According to Carlow Weather, the warmer air is what has carried the Saharan dust, and it will only be released with rainfall. With no showers, the dust cloud would simply pass over Ireland in time.

A few reports of a shower in the Southwest and it brought the Saharan dust down with it! https://t.co/4W9cKc7hlL

— Carlow Weather (@CarlowWeather) September 4, 2023

While this kind of weather is uncommon in Ireland, it is not unheard of. Periodically, Ireland will experience Saharan dust if the conditions are right. As for the rest of this week, Met Éireann predicts the warm temperatures will last, with warm weather by day and by night, and the chance of thundery storms breaking out.

Today was the warmest day at our 25 synoptic stations since the 13th June with Valentia Observatory, Co. Kerry having the highest maximum air temperature☀️⤵️ pic.twitter.com/n8NO9V3P8s

— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) September 4, 2023

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