Red alert! Sahara Desert dust cloud which could be the worst on record spreads from Spain to Switzerland and brings an eerie glow to the skies

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Spanish officials have issued extremely poor air quality ratings for a large swathe of the country after a mass of hot air from the Sahara dumped dust after crossing the Mediterranean with weather experts warning the UK could be next.

The dust cloud, which was caused by Storm Celia, has resulted in a number of eerie videos and photographs being shared online which depict orange-tinged landscapes across the country. 

Spain's national air quality index qualified the capital and large parts of the south-east coast as 'extremely unfavourable' - its worst rating.

Spain's weather service described the dust storm from the Sahara as 'extraordinary and very intense', while adding that it was unclear if it was the worst episode of its kind on record.

Meanwhile weather experts have predicted that eastern parts of the UK could also be affected by the cloud of dust this week. 

BBC weather presenter Carol Kirkwood said the poor air quality could be felt in Britain as soon as Wednesday.

Spain issued extremely poor air quality ratings for a large swathe of Spain Tuesday after a mass of hot air from the Sahara dumped loads of dust after crossing the Mediterranean. Pictured: An orange sky is seen over a building in Navares, Spain

Sky with reddish tones due to the arrival of Saharan dust, on 14 March, 2022 in Navares, Caravaca de la Cruz, Murcia, Spain

Sky with reddish tones due to the arrival of Saharan dust, on 14 March, 2022 in Navares, Caravaca de la Cruz, Murcia, Spain

She said: 'There has been very poor air quality today in parts of Spain, and it could well affect us in the southeast and East Anglia on Wednesday.

'So if you wake up on Wednesday and your car is covered in orange dust, you'll know where it comes from and why.' 

Dr Andy Whittamore, Clinical Lead at Asthma UK, said if the dust cloud was to hit the UK it could put millions of people at risk and urged people with asthma to make sure they travelled with their inhaler at all times.

In a statement he said: 'Saharan dust could pose a serious risk to the 5.4million people in the UK with asthma. Dust and other types of air pollution are a well-known trigger for people with asthma.

'Toxic air can leave people struggling for breath and can cause wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath and even a life-threatening asthma attack.

'People with asthma must make sure they carry their reliever inhaler (usually blue) with them at all times in case their symptoms worsen.

Madrid woke up with an unusual meteorological phenomenon generated by a high amount of dust coming from the Sahara

Tourists visit Puerta del Sol square as storm Celia blew sand from the Sahara desert over Madrid, Spain, March 15, 2022

Pictured: People are seen as dust from the Sahara Desert blown by storm Celia affects the city in Madrid earlier today

Pictured: A vehicle covered by dust from the Sahara Desert blown by storm Celia is seen in Madrid, Spain, on March 15

View of the Almeria fortress covered in orange as result of the airbone dust from Sahara desert in Almeria, southeastern Spain

Pictured: A former Swiss Air Force jet fighter Mirage 2000 is placed on display in front of the entrance of the Swiss Army at Payerne Air Base as Sahara sand colours the sky in orange and creates a special light atmosphere, Switzerland, earlier today

Sahara dust drifts over central Switzerland near Mount Brisen and the village of Stans in the canton of Nidwalden, Switzerland

'We also advise people with asthma to continue to manage their condition with their preventer inhaler (usually brown) as this will help to reduce the inflammation in their airways and make them less likely to react to asthma triggers.'

Spain's weather service predicts that the dust will continue to accumulate through until Wednesday and could reach northwards as far as the Netherlands and north-western Germany.

Many Spaniards awoke on Tuesday to find a layer of red dust covering terraces, streets and cars.

The sky in the capital of Madrid and other cities had a gritty tinge to them. Visibility in Madrid and cities like Granada and Leon was reduced to 2.5 miles, the weather service said.

Emergency authorities have recommended citizens use face masks if they go outside, and avoid outdoor exercise.

The Climatology Laboratory research unit at the University of Alicante is sharing updates on the situation and has issued advice to those living in areas impacted by the dust.

Pictured: The orange sand from Sahara that fell overnight covering the snow, in Piau-Engaly ski resort, southern France

A skier looks on as sand from Sahara felt overnight covering the snow, in Piau-Engaly ski ressort, southwestern France

Pictured: People at the San Nicolas viewpoint in Granada with the Alhambra in the background blurred by Saharan dust

In a recent Facebook post, they wrote: 'We insist again that given these concentrations of suspended particles it is quite advisable to wear the mask on the street, especially people who suffer from respiratory diseases.

'We also do not recommend long-term outdoor activities.'

The wave of hot air has also affected the air quality in areas north of Madrid, as far west as in Spain's Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean, where these events are more frequent, and in the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean.

The weather service said that the mass of hot air from Africa, which was brought in by a storm that delivered some much-needed rain for drought-hit Spain, has also pushed up temperatures in some areas to 20C.

Ruben del Campo, a spokesman for Spain's weather service, said that while it was unclear if climate change had a direct link to this episode, the expansion of the Sahara desert over the past century has increased the potential for larger dust storm events in Europe.

He also said that the increasingly turbulent weather patterns linked to climate change could play a part.

'There are many concerns regarding the impact that climate change is having on the patterns of the frequency and intensity of the storms that favour the arrival of dust to our country,' Mr del Campo said.