Austria under Sahara dust: first 30 degree day of 2025!

Austria under Sahara dust: first 30 degree day of 2025!

Austria is today under the influence of unusual early summer heat. On May 2, 2025, the first official 30 degree day of 2025 was reported in Innsbruck at 30.1 degrees. This is historically the third earliest 30 degree day since temperature records began in Innsbruck. Temperatures also rose above 25 degrees in other cities such as Klagenfurt, Vienna, Linz, Graz, Eisenstadt and St. Pölten, with Graz remaining only two degrees below the 30 degree mark at 28 degrees. This anomaly in temperatures is notable, especially considering that a change in the weather is forecast for Sunday, May 4th. From then on, cooler air will flow into Austria from the north, and temperatures are expected to fall to just around 15 degrees by Tuesday, May 6th.

Amidst these mid-summer temperatures, Saharan dust from North Africa is also present. This dust clouds the sky and makes the sun shine milky through a veil of dust. The weather phenomenon caused by strong winds from dust storms in northern Africa has recently increased in intensity. Dust particles, which are virulent at altitudes of up to 10 kilometers, can travel as far as Northern Europe under certain conditions, affecting temperature conditions and reducing solar radiation. Saharan dust has the ability to contribute to cloud formation and is known to create unpredictable weather conditions.

Origin and consequences of Sahara dust

Saharan dust is regularly observed in Europe, which could be linked to global warming and climatic changes. However, Andreas Walter from the German Weather Service was unable to find a clear connection between climate change and the frequency of this phenomenon. Historical names such as “blood rain” prove that Saharan dust has long been part of weather phenomena. Current forecast models developed by the DWD and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology are crucial for the energy industry, as desert dust reduces solar power output and therefore also has an impact on the power grid.

In Austria and beyond, the increase in Sahara dust events is a clear indication that such natural phenomena could occur more frequently in the future. This could not only influence the weather conditions, but also the ecological and economic structures of the affected regions. With a view to the coming days of weather changes, the forecasts are of great importance in order to prepare for future challenges.

The rapid change in weather conditions once again shows the complexity and dynamics of the climate system. Experts warn that this influence could also have long-term consequences for local weather and climate, a topic that is increasingly becoming the focus of meteorological research.

For more information about these exciting weather phenomena and their influence, take a look at 5min and GEO and the Klimaschutz-MH website are recommended.