While everyone was trying to sleep with the sound of the wind seeming like it was blowing roofs off the houses it started to rain. The aftermath of the combination of warm strong wind and rain is red rain.
The phenomenon is due to dust clouds gathering in the African desert, rising and being pushed north (Crete is above Libya). If it rains during that period, the dust settles wherever it lands, and stays there until you clean it; unlike ordinary dust, it sticks to the surface it lands on. If you were unlucky enough to have washing on the line to dry, that too will become red and you'll have to wash it again. In any case, you have to wipe down the washing line, because your clean washing will get red streaks on it.
This storm occurred a few days ago in Hania. When this happens, you can see most people outside their house as soon as the rain stops, cleaning the red sand from the Sahara Desert off their walls, yards and cars.
And that's life in the Mediterranean right now - we had another bout of it yesterday, this time during the day. As I don't want to get muddy just by standing on my verandah (it actually sticks on your clothes), I've uploaded these photos from the last bout of red rain.
It's my understanding the The Sahara was once the bread basket of Africa but was over farmed. Now it's where hurricanes begin...and land on my front door from time to time. It looks messy.
ReplyDeleteAloha, Kiwi:
ReplyDeleteYour posts make me feel as if I am visitng the magical isle of Crete which I have dreamed of since childhood. The dust of Africa comes to you, bringing who knows what spells?
The top photo is mysterious and full of elemental energy. . Crete seems like a sister to my Hawaii!
Wow, that shot of the palm tree going in one direction captures the force of the wind.
ReplyDeleteIn Israel it always happens just before Passover, just after everyone has done the meticulous spring cleaning: the loess, the fine yellow dust, blows in from the desert and settles on everything, clinging stubbornly.
I guess it could be worse. Just as I left Australia, Victoria was burning. So many dead in the bushfires. Oi ...
oh wow! that was so interesting..
ReplyDeleteThat red rain was a disaster.Everything became red and my car, too. I hope and wish for another clean rain to wash evrything out.
ReplyDeleteHow very strange! You have red rain and today I have posted about our rain of fire in Victoria, Australia.
ReplyDeleteIt is quite incredible that sand from Africa can be carried like this! Nature is quite amazing!
Believe it or not: red Sahara sand sometimes comes as far as Vienna.
ReplyDeletethat is a new one for me eva!
ReplyDeleteRed rain - a strange phenomena but well explained. Our rain is just grey and some snow remains.
ReplyDeleteI recently saw a doc on a cable channel about this phenomena and was surprised to see that these storms can cross the whole Atlantic!
ReplyDeleteNever saw one and I guess it can be interesting but messy.
This is amazing! A couple of years ago it happened the same here, but it was summertime and the sky turned brown for 2 or 3 days. Rather odd!
ReplyDeleteAnyawy, whether the winds are warm or cold, I think this is a very severe winter everywhere!
Interesting. I thought the big bad Sirocco wind storms usually harassed us in Spring/Summer. That red dust is absolutely awful and its futile to mop up before you are sure that the winds have passed. During the winds we have to stuff old newspapers under all the windows and doors and that is even with the shutters securely CLOSED. At least we are protected a bit by the Rodopou peninsula, try toughing it out in Falassarna! I was unfortunate enough to be there during a Sirocco, no rain, and it was utterly impossible.
ReplyDeleteOnce when I was at school in Italy we took a weekend trip to Sorrento. You guessed it - a Sirocco wind, but a meek little one in comparison to any experienced in Crete. We had to wear our scuba goggles to go out for dinner, but it was hilarious sight as even the locals had to wear sunglasses and over sized head scarves that evening. You just improvise when you have to sometimes.
Να τα πούμε ακραία καιρικά φαινόμενα;
ReplyDeleteRed rain. From Africa. No doubt it caused a flurry of activity getting cars washed off. We have had red dust in the rain that made our cars red too but it came up in the rain from Alabama or Georgia or both. Years ago. Nothing lately.
ReplyDeleteI guess it's the price you pay for living so close to Africa and it's lovely warm weather ;-)
ReplyDeleteI've heard of this last year as my family who live on the Mediterranean experienced a similar thing.
ReplyDeleteWe used to get this dust in Wales and I believe a Swansea blogfriend reported it in the last six months.
ReplyDeleteWould that be a Simoon or is it the Firn - if the spelling is correct.
This is our Spring, but with very little rain. The dust from the desert blows and embeds itself in everything. I hate spring, actually.
ReplyDelete