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Why the Paris sky might turn orange in the coming days

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The Editor

© Fabien Maurin / Unsplash

Like swallows in spring, they return every year. In the coming days, particles of sand from the Sahara will cover all of France, and the Île-de-France region won't escape. As a result, the sky will turn orange, a phenomenon far from being new in Paris.

After weeks of rain and cold, spring is starting to peek its nose out in the capital, with nearly 20°C expected on the streets of Paris this Wednesday, February 25. This warm spell isn’t coming from nowhere, but specifically from the Sahara, and it's bringing along a natural phenomenon that isn’t without consequences: the arrival of sandy particles in the sky over the City of Light.


Hooray for southern winds!

Since yesterday, a cloud straight from the largest sand desert in the world has been on its way to France. And the good news is, it's bringing along unusually warm temperatures for the season, which we certainly don’t mind! However, despite the spring-like thermometer and the sunshine expected, the sky might still be quite overcast for a simple and good reason, the stro...presence of sand particles.

While all of France is about to take on a slight orange hue, it’s not the first time such a phenomenon has affected the capital. Unfortunately, it comes with a slight degradation of air quality, and we recommend not keeping your windows open for too long lest you find some deposits making their way into your living room.


A potential health risk?

Even though this phenomenon isn’t new—having occurred on several occasions over the last few years—it still raises some concerns. Indeed, these sand particles contain cesium 137, a radioactive and obviously harmful element. However, according to L'IRSN (French Institute for Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety), the quantities would be.

negligible and do not pose a real danger to health. However, it is still recommended to avoid engaging in intense physical activities outdoors and to wear a mask if you have respiratory issues.