There could be a spectacular sunset tonight that may make you feel better about the state of your car.
Saharan Dust is likely to lead to a lovely sunset this evening (Thursday, April 1), the Met Office has said.
The hoped-for evening spectacle comes after many cars across the South West, from Exeter to Cheltenham, have been covered in the fine ‘sandy’ particles from the North African desert.
The grainy deposits are a mixture of sand and dust from the vast desert region that have been whipped up by the wind and blown to the UK.
Strong winds over the expanse take the sand high up into the sky – and if those winds are heading north, they can reach the UK.
The Met Office explains: “Once it is lifted from the ground by strong winds, clouds of dust can reach very high altitudes and be transported worldwide, covering thousands of miles.
"In order for the dust to get from up in the sky down to the ground, you need something to wash it out of the sky - rain.
“As raindrops fall, they collect particles of dust on the way down. Then when the raindrops land on something and eventually evaporate, they leave behind a layer of dust.”
Saharan dust is not uncommon in the UK, the Met Office says. It often appears several times each year with dust storms in the Sahara combine with wind patterns.
Sunset is due around 7.43pm tonight in the South West.
The dust also created some impressive scenes this morning.
The Met Office said earlier today on twitter: "If you live in the south of the UK you may be wondering why the sky has a strange hue this morning.
"This is Saharan Dust which can even be seen of the latest visible satellite picture."
We'll update this story with images of the sunset should it prove as spectacular as hoped.
