Saharan dust, strong winds in Greece result in cancelled flights
Stormy southern winds have carried large amounts of fine desert sand from the Sahara to Greece, with the popular holiday islands of Crete and Rhodes particularly affected on Friday.
Dozens of flights had to be rerouted to other Greek airports due to wind gusts of force 12 in the area of these holiday islands, according to reports from the public broadcaster ERTNews. Some flights were cancelled.
In Crete, the measured particulate matter levels on Friday were over 250 micrograms per cubic metre of air, the University of Athens reported.
This weather phenomenon was accompanied by unusually high temperatures. On the island of Crete, temperatures reached up to 34 degrees Celsius in some areas on Wednesday, meteorologists reported on Greek radio.
In the capital Athens, temperatures also rose to 26 degrees around midday, and visibility was limited. The surrounding mountains were barely visible.
Doctors warned people with respiratory diseases not to stay outdoors for too long. Physically strenuous activities outdoors should be avoided, they said. Health complaints can occur even at a particulate matter concentration of 50 micrograms per cubic metre.
Lighter westerly winds are expected to set in over the weekend, which will disperse the particulate matter, the weather office reported.
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