A yellow-orange haze of dust from the Sahara desert has covered parts of Greece, leading to health warnings and creating surreal landscapes. The Greek meteorological service attributed this phenomenon to favorable weather conditions that facilitated the movement of dust from Africa, particularly affecting the southern regions of the country. The dust concentration is expected to decrease gradually, with limited impact by midday Wednesday.
Residents in Athens witnessed the unusual yellow-orange fog, likening the city to a scene from Mars. Similarly, Cyprus has also experienced dust clouds, affecting air quality and visibility. NASA's Terra satellite captured images of the dust shrouding Cyprus, with forecasts indicating continued impact on both Cyprus and Greece in the coming days.
Meanwhile, in Finland, an unexpected snowfall disrupted daily life in the southern regions. Public transport services were severely affected, with over 20 centimeters of snow reported in some areas. The unseasonal snowfall caused delays in transportation, flight cancellations, and road accidents, although no serious injuries were reported.
Helsinki residents navigated through thick snow and ice, with maintenance workers facing challenges in clearing snow from power lines. The airport operator highlighted the need for increased de-icing measures due to freezing rain, emphasizing the unusual weather conditions for late April.
Despite the disruptions, authorities are working to restore normalcy in both Greece and Finland, urging residents to exercise caution and allow extra time for their journeys amidst these unexpected weather events.
