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UK weather – Brits brace for hottest day of the year this week with highs of 18C after Saharan dust turned skies orange
BRITS are braced for the hottest day of the year this week as temperatures are set to soar as high as 18C.
The balmy weather comes as a Saharan dust cloud sweeps across Europe, blanketing Britain, Spain and France and turning skies orange.
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The dust cloud, which is about 2km above ground level, hit Sussex, Kent and London on Wednesday afternoon.
The phenomenon occurs when relatively high concentrations of red coloured dust or particles get mixed into rain, giving it a red appearance as it falls, according to the Met Office.
And Brits earlier shared images of their cars and homes being covered in the rusty Saharan dust in the South East of England.
Met Office meteorologist, Dan Stroud, said the dust is likely to be washed out of the air by an area of cloud and rain pushing eastwards across the West Country on Wednesday evening.
But high pressure building behind the wet weather over the course of the weekend is likely to see southern areas of England treated to a warm spring Saturday.
"We are likely to see some very pleasant spring sunshine, especially for the London and southeast area, during the course of the Saturday," he said.
"We're looking at temperatures of up to 16, 17, and perhaps even a rounded 18C could be possible."
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The Met Office said the warmest temperature it had recorded so far in 2022 was 17.2C in Pershore, Worcestershire, meaning Saturday could become the warmest day of the year yet.
Southern Spain and France have already been tinted with the coral coating after the dust was dragged up from the African continent.
It has been propelled across by gusty gales brought about by Storm Celia and showers are set to expel it from the skies today.
Although forecasters predict the impact is unlikely to be significant, vulnerable Brits have been warned to remain vigilant.
Dust storms are a source of natural particles, including very small materials, potential allergens, and pollutants and can be dangerous for people with lung conditions such as asthma and other allergies.
These storms distribute millions of particles through the air and increase the amount of particles above the allowable threshold for human health.
Experts at Asthma UK have warned that extreme weather events can trigger deadly asthma attacks for the 5.4 million sufferers in the UK.
Atmospheric scientist Dr Claire Ryder suggested the "air quality may be slightly lower than usual" due to the dust particles clogging the air.
She added: "We could see reduced solar energy production and slightly lower surface temperatures, because the dust reflects some sunlight back out into space."
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BBC forecaster Carol Kirkwood echoed her cautions, explaining "it could well affect us in the southeast and East Anglia on Wednesday."
Asthma UK said there are two reasons that thunderstorms can trigger asthma attacks.
They explained: "The air before a storm can feel very humid and close. Some people tell us this gives them a tight chest and a cough, and that they find it harder to breathe.
"During pollen season, the windy conditions during a thunderstorm blow lots of pollen high into the air.
"The moisture higher up in the air breaks the pollen into much smaller pieces.
"As these smaller pieces of pollen particles then settle back down, they can be breathed in, irritating the smaller airways of the lungs", they added.
Europeans have been advised to avoid staying outside for long periods and to wear face masks in wake of the freak weather.
People in the south might find a bit of dust left on their cars as the rain washes it out of the skies today.
Richard Miles
UK forecasts predicted the dust would most likely be mostly visible at sunset, although particles have already began to pour from the sky.
Met Office meteorologist Richard Miles said: "Storm Celia over Spain is indeed pulling a dust cloud up from the Sahara, which could potentially reach as far as the south of the UK.
"However, we don’t expect significant impacts – the most likely would be on the cloudscapes at sunset but, as conditions are likely to be generally overcast and wet for much of the day, this is unlikely to amount to much.
"There are no air-quality warnings," he said.
"People in the south might find a bit of dust left on their cars as the rain washes it out of the skies today."
Wednesday is set to begin with a bright morning in the Northwest, followed by scattered heavy showers later on.
Other parts of the country will be cloudy with showery rain turning heavier across some eastern areas.
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There will also be a few brighter, warmer spells focused in southwestern areas.
But a cold snap will then return across the region, with patchy frost and some rural mist.
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