Calima, the Saharan dust that turns Malaga’s skies orange
Given the city’s close proximity to North Africa and the Gibraltar Strait, the people of Malaga are no strangers to weird and wonderful weather phenomena.
One, which is quite common throughout the year, is that of calima.
This suspension of Saharan sand dust in the skies is a natural phenomenon. It casts a hazy hue over the province and, depending on the severity, can bring with it a whole host of consequences.
What is calima?
Calima, also known as a sirocco or khamsin, is a weather phenomenon characterised by a warm, dry, and often dusty wind blowing from the Sahara Desert across the Mediterranean Sea to the northern coast of Africa and southern Europe.
This wind can carry large amounts of fine dust particles, sand and other debris, resulting in reduced visibility and a foggy atmosphere.
When does calima normally happen?
Calima typically occurs during the early part of the year, in the spring and summer months.
This is because this is when the temperature difference between the Sahara Desert and the surrounding regions is most pronounced.
Is calima dangerous?
While calima is a natural occurrence, it can have various impacts on the affected areas.
These can include:
- respiratory problems for individuals sensitive to dust
- reduced air quality
- disruption to transportation and daily activities.
Most often, though, the consequences are less severe. Typically, it results in sand being deposited on cars, windows, balconies, terraces and any washing left on the line.
There is one benefit, however. Amid the urban upheaval caused by the calima, nature seems to thrive amid the chaos with the Saharan dust having a fertilising effect, enriching the soil with essential nutrients.
The 2022 calima episode
However, recent memories evoke a different response when the word ‘calima’ is uttered – a reaction tinged with unease and apprehension. The reason? An event etched in the collective memory, where thousands of tonnes of Saharan dust painted the streets and facades of buildings, leaving an indelible mark on Malaga’s landscape.
The extraordinary event, spanning from 14 to 24 March 2022, unfolded as a result of an unfortunate combination of meteorological factors.
A convergence of anticyclonic regions, coupled with depressions over the British Isles and the Gulf of Cadiz, set the stage for Storm Celia and intense southerly winds over the Sahara. This, in turn, propelled a massive cloud of dust towards the Iberian Peninsula, transforming Malaga’s skies into a Martian landscape.
When it rained, this resulted in a deluge of mud and dust caking everything it came in contact with on the ground.
The cleanup was monumental, and the legacy of the 2022 calima can still be seen on the façades of some buildings even now.
Episodes of this scale, however, are extremely rare.
Daryl is the co-founder of Malaga Guru. He is a copywriter, editor and translator who moved to Malaga a decade ago having first fallen in love with the city on his Erasmus year. After working for many years at local expat newspaper SUR in English, Daryl gained expert knowledge in life from the perspective of foreign residents and decided to co-found this site in 2016.