UK has experienced heavy rain, with some areas receiving downpours throughout the year.
Scientists from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service CAMS have warned that Britain is set to experience showers of “blood rain” in a couple of days.
Experts at CAMS explained that a plume of red Saharan dust sweeping over Europe towards the UK will mix with Britain’s persistent rain, giving it a distinctive reddish color.
Despite its alarming name, blood rain is not considered harmful and is expected to leave only a thin layer of dust on vehicles.
According to a senior scientist at CAMS, Mark Parrington, the red-colored dust will mostly pass over southern England and at higher altitudes.
The blood rain is being forecast to arrive in the UK by Tuesday, February 24, 2026, and is expected to last for two hours in the afternoon.
As reported by the Daily Mail, scientists revealed that this phenomenon is very rare and the plume of dust is likely caused by the seasonal biomass burning in Equatorial Africa.
The strong winds blowing over the desert whip up the dust high into the atmosphere and if the winds in the upper atmosphere are blowing north, the plumes of aerosols can travel as far as the UK.
Parrington said that it occurs very often, adding that CAMS is tracking the plume as it makes its way toward Britain.
Earlier, the UK Met Office confirmed that the rainy season is expected to last until mid-March 2026.
When this dust mixes with Britain’s persistent rain, the precipitation will take on a distinctive reddish color, creating a phenomenon known as ‘blood rain.’
Despite its alarming appearance, experts say there is no reason to be concerned by this sudden change and the most dramatic consequence will likely be a thin film of dust left on cars and exposed surfaces once the rain has dried.
