Rare ‘Blood Rain’ Expected in UK as Red Saharan Dust Mixes with Showers

LONDON: After record rainfall in recent years, the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) has warned of a rare phenomenon in the UK known as “blood rain,” where rain appears red due to dust particles from the Sahara Desert.

Experts explain that a large layer of red dust lifted from the desert is moving across Europe toward the UK. When this dust mixes with ongoing rainfall, the rain will appear red. Senior scientist Mark Parrington noted that the red dust will mostly affect southern England and higher elevations. Despite its dramatic appearance, the phenomenon poses no threat to human health, although it may leave a thin layer of dust on vehicles and open surfaces.

Scientists say this rare event originates from dust waves caused by seasonal biomass burning in the equatorial regions of Africa. Strong desert winds lift the dust into the upper atmosphere, and if the winds blow northward, the dust can travel all the way to the UK.

According to CAMS, the red rain is expected on Tuesday, 24 February 2026, during the afternoon and may last approximately two hours. The UK Met Office has also confirmed that rainy conditions are likely to continue until mid-March 2026.

Experts emphasized that despite the red appearance, there is no cause for alarm, and the main visible effect will be a light dust layer on vehicles and open areas.