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A thick wave of African dust sweeping across parts of Greece disrupted flights and darkened skies Wednesday, as authorities warned the same system is expected to reach Cyprus in the coming days.
The dust cloud, driven northward from the Sahara, heavily affected the island of Crete, particularly the wider Iraklio area, where visibility dropped sharply, forcing several international flights to divert to other airports.
Three incoming flights scheduled to land at Iraklio’s Nikos Kazantzakis Airport were unable to touch down safely and were redirected to Hania, Athens and Corfu instead.
One aircraft traveling from Manchester to Rhodes encountered widespread poor visibility across the region. After attempting to reroute toward Iraklio, the plane ultimately landed in Hania as dust conditions worsened.
Storm system intensifies conditions
Meteorologists say the dusty atmosphere has been amplified by Storm Erminio, a powerful weather system bringing heavy rain, thunderstorms and strong winds across Greece. The combination of strong winds and unstable weather helped carry massive quantities of fine desert particles across the eastern Mediterranean.
Authorities expect conditions in Greece to gradually improve, but the moving air mass is forecast to continue eastward, placing Cyprus directly in its path.
Local weather services are monitoring the system closely, with hazy skies and reduced air quality likely to be felt on the island within days.
Health warnings issued
Health experts are urging caution, especially for children, older adults and people with respiratory or heart conditions.
African dust events carry extremely fine particles that can penetrate deep into the lungs, potentially triggering breathing difficulties, allergies and eye irritation even among otherwise healthy individuals.
Doctors typically advise limiting outdoor activity during peak dust periods, keeping windows closed when possible, and using protective masks for those sensitive to air pollution.
A familiar but growing phenomenon
Dust transport from North Africa is not unusual in the eastern Mediterranean, but scientists say episodes have become more frequent and intense in recent years due to changing weather patterns and prolonged dry conditions in desert regions.
For Cyprus, the arrival of such dust clouds often brings orange-tinted skies, reduced visibility and a noticeable drop in air quality, reminders of how closely connected the island’s weather is to broader regional systems.
As the dust moves east, residents may soon notice the familiar haze settling over the island, another sign that weather events hundreds of kilometers away can quickly become a local story.
