Rare 'blood rain' phenomenon has people in the UK seeing red

Some people in the UK may have to go through the car wash a second time after an unusual weather phenomenon this past weekend.

Bringing visions of horror movies, “blood rain” is actually much less morbid than it sounds — but it is quite rare.

The colloquial term refers to precipitation falling from the sky that carries red-coloured dust or particles.

It is caused when desert sand gets swept up into the atmosphere and carried long distances, falling with the rain and staining the surface it lands on.

Following an unusually warm weather this Easter in the UK, “blood rain” came as a result of dust swept up from the Sahara Desert. The rain looked the same as usual, but people reported an orange-red residue on their homes and car.

#BloodRain anyone? 🌧️

OK …it’s not as gruesome as it sounds …but developing showers for a few today could wash out some of the Saharan dust in skies above us and deposit a reddish grit on your car.

Here’s your full Wednesday weather guide …
MT pic.twitter.com/85Emz2fS6e

— BBC Weather (@bbcweather) April 24, 2019

More #SaharanDust visible this morning giving an orangey residue – also known as #BloodRain #LoveUKWeather pic.twitter.com/tgC1usbFpG

— Luke Miall (@LukeMiall) April 24, 2019

#Saharandust all over my car pic.twitter.com/1ZARyDlXXi

— Luke Miall (@LukeMiall) April 23, 2019

#SaharanDust creating orangey rain also called #BloodRain pic.twitter.com/9NDPlCyHVw

— East Devon Weather (@EastDevonWX) April 24, 2019

Saharan dust has landed… #Twickenham #bloodrain pic.twitter.com/Dc7px1JHIs

— Fran Perrow (@mediafran) April 24, 2019

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