Blood rain can be caused when heavy concentrations of red dust mix with rain
There could be a rain of blood in the UK this week as severe thunderstorms mix with a cloud of dust, forecasters say.
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Red or orange rains could fall in parts of the country in the form of showers, lightning, high winds and hail.
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But what is blood rain, where does it occur, how often does it fall, and is it actually red? Here’s what you need to know.
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What is Blood Rain?
According to the Met Office, the phenomenon known as blood rain occurs when relatively high concentrations of red-colored dust or particles mix with rain, giving it a red appearance as it falls.
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Strong winds or storms can stir up dust and sand, and when suspended in the air, they circulate and can be carried thousands of miles.
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Dust can also cause vivid sunsets.
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The Met Office website states: “Eventually dust will fall from the sky due to gravity or be caught by rain clouds where it will mix with water droplets. If these fall as rain, the raindrops might appear red.
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What is the rarity of blood rain?
The Met Office says it’s actually not that common to have actual blood rain where it would appear red. Indeed, there would have to be fairly high concentrations of red dust in the rain for this to happen.
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There are few documented cases, including one in 2001 in the southern Indian state of Kerala. He saw regular monsoon rains falling with a red color deep enough to stain clothes.
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While the term blood rain is used in the UK, the dust is more likely to be yellow or brown.
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The Met Office website states: “Several times a year there will be rain mixed with some amount of dust in the UK. It usually comes out of the Sahara before mixing with the clouds and falling.
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“However, the dust we see is usually yellow or brown and mixed in very low concentrations – so the rain would look the same as usual. The only difference would be that after the water evaporates, you might find a thin film of dust on your car or windows.
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When and where will this happen?
A cloud of Saharan dust crosses the Atlantic and is expected to reach Western Europe on Friday and then south-east England.
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Richard Miles of the Met Office told the PA news agency: ‘There are currently levels of dust in the atmosphere over the UK which could be washed away by rain this evening, but overall , levels are likely to be relatively low.”
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It comes as a yellow stormy weather warning was also issued across the south east, including London, from Wednesday evening until the early hours of Thursday, saying people should expect travel disruption.
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Heavy rain is expected in parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland on Wednesday and Thursday, while showers will also hit parts of Wales and central and south-west England.
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https://www.nationalworld.com/news/uk/what-is-blood-rain-weather-explained-where-in-uk-will-red-rain-fall-forecast-3699710 What is blood rain and will it hit parts of the UK this week?
