DON’T MISS
IamExpat Job BoardIamExpat HousingIamExpat Webinars
Newsletters
EXPAT INFO
CAREER
HOUSING
EDUCATION
LIFESTYLE
EXPAT SERVICES
NEWS & ARTICLES
Home
Lifestyle
Swiss news & articles
Swiss skies turn orange as Saharan dust sweeps through
Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy

Swiss skies turn orange as Saharan dust sweeps through

Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy
or
follow us for regular updates:



Related Stories

6 fun things to do on a hot day in Switzerland6 fun things to do on a hot day in Switzerland
When does summer start in Switzerland?When does summer start in Switzerland?
7 best places to see cherry blossom in Switzerland7 best places to see cherry blossom in Switzerland
Taurids and Leonids meteor showers to light up Swiss skies this monthTaurids and Leonids meteor showers to light up Swiss skies this month
10 signs you've been living in Switzerland for too long10 signs you've been living in Switzerland for too long
5 tell-tale signs that autumn has arrived in Switzerland 5 tell-tale signs that autumn has arrived in Switzerland
Warnings issued as a severe heatwave grips SwitzerlandWarnings issued as a severe heatwave grips Switzerland
Fireflies in Switzerland: How to watch nature's light showFireflies in Switzerland: How to watch nature's light show
For expats of all colours, shapes and sizes

Explore
Expat infoCareerHousingEducationLifestyleExpat servicesNews & articles
About us
IamExpat MediaAdvertisePost a jobContact usSitemap
More IamExpat
IamExpat Job BoardIamExpat HousingWebinarsNewsletters
Privacy
Terms of usePrivacy policyCookiesAvoiding scams

Never miss a thing!Sign up for expat events, news & offers, delivered once a week.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy


© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
Mar 15, 2022
Jan de Boer

Editor at IamExpat Media

Jan studied History at the University of York and Broadcast Journalism at the University of Sheffield. Though born in York, Jan has lived most of his life in Zurich and has worked as a journalist, writer and editor since 2016. While he has plunged head-first back into life in Switzerland since returning to the country in 2020, he still enjoys a taste of home at pub quizzes and karaoke nights.Read more

People awoke on March 15 in Switzerland to see orange skies across the country. The reason? Saharan sand had made its way across the Mediterranean to the alpine country, in a meteorological phenomenon only seen three times a year.

Orange skies in Switzerland caused by Saharan dust

Even atop Swiss mountains, the skies have turned from azure blue to Saharan orange, as large waves of dust envelop the country. The sand originated from northwest Africa in nations like Mauritania, Mali and Algeria.

Der Himmel über dem Thunersee! #SaharanDust #SaharaStaub @srfmeteo @srfbern @MeteoNewsAG @meteoschweiz @Kachelmann @Kachelmannwettr @StormHour pic.twitter.com/IGYmcPz7an

— Daniel P. Everett (@angloswissguy) March 15, 2022

After being swept off the mountain dunes of Africa, most of the dust floats between 2 and 5 kilometres above the ground, travelling northwards using the foehn - the warm southerly wind that flows through Switzerland. Now, the dust has started to fall as the wind fades, creating the orange colour effect.

Sand from the Sahara cakes most vehicles

Not only does it give the sunlight an unusual yellow tint, but it also coats everything from houses to people. Drivers in Switzerland are likely to face long queues at car washes, as most vehicles now look as if they had just come back from power sliding on a Mediterranean beach.

Der #Saharastaub ist in der #Schweiz angekommen. Dies ist z.B. auf den roundshot Webcams von #Montreux, Lac Derborence und Morgins eindrücklich zu sehen. Mehr Webcams: https://t.co/2lv0pkxXAz, weitere Infos zum Saharastaub: https://t.co/hmaANlIjkR (ss) pic.twitter.com/kO3VTEXLsL

— MeteoNews Schweiz (@MeteoNewsAG) March 15, 2022

The meteorological phenomenon is not uncommon for weather in Switzerland, happening around three times a year during the spring and autumn months. While it may not last long, the sand gives locals an excellent opportunity to experience the colour palette of Dune and Blade Runner for a few hours.

By Jan de Boer