Morning Afternoon
A light-brown dust plume with a defined front spreads over northwestern Africa in the late morning. NASA Earth Observatory / Lauren Dauphin
By afternoon, the plume has shifted southwest, partly extending over the Atlantic Ocean. NASA Earth Observatory / Lauren Dauphin MorningAfternoon
A light-brown dust plume with a defined front spreads over northwestern Africa in the late morning. NASA Earth Observatory / Lauren Dauphin By afternoon, the plume has shifted southwest, partly extending over the Atlantic Ocean. NASA Earth Observatory / Lauren Dauphin Morning Afternoon
March 30, 2026
CurtainToggle2-UpImage Details
Saharan dust spreads across northwestern Africa on March 30, 2026, in these images acquired in the morning (left) by the MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) on NASA’s Terra satellite and in the afternoon (right) by the VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) on NOAA-21.
In early spring 2026, a dry, dust-laden wind known as the harmattan swept across northwestern Africa. Cold temperatures, high winds, and blowing dust prompted officials to issue an alert for several regions of Morocco due to the low visibility and harsh conditions.
Satellites tracked the wall of dust over the course of the day on March 30 as it moved southwest from the Sahara Desert and toward the Atlantic Ocean. The left image, captured by NASA’s Terra satellite, shows the dust at about 10:00 Universal Time (11 a.m. local time in Morocco). The NOAA-21 satellite captured the right image about four hours later.
Meteosat-12, a satellite operated by the European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT), captured another view of the dust storm. The geostationary weather satellite showed the dust’s movement as it moved closer to the Canary Islands.
According to Spain’s state meteorological agency (AEMET), the harmattan winds blow from the northeast between November and April, often producing dust storms as winds lift dust particles from the Sahara. During the March 30 event, AEMET noted that conditions were right for a harmattan surge, which happens when winds get stronger near the ground with the passing of a cold front. That day, winds converged perpendicular to the High Atlas mountain range before shifting southwest.
Forecasts called for the Saharan dust to ultimately engulf the Canary Islands, triggering what islanders know as calima. The dust episode was expected to worsen air quality and visibility across the islands through April 1. A separate storm earlier in March also sent dust toward the Canaries, along with another plume that dispersed widely across Europe.
Researchers using NASA data have previously reported that the most intense Saharan dust storms occur in the spring, when dust is typically lifted from the sand seas, or ergs, of central North Africa and areas along the Mediterranean coast. In the warmer months, another peak occurs in the central Sahara.
NASA Earth Observatory images by Lauren Dauphin, using MODIS and VIIRS data from NASA EOSDIS LANCE, GIBS/Worldview, and the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS). Story by Kathryn Hansen.
Downloads
March 30, 2026: Terra MODIS
JPEG (2.42 MB)
March 30, 2026: NOAA-21 VIIRS
JPEG (2.01 MB)
References & Resources
AEMET Divulga via X (2026, March 31) These satellite images show a surge of harmattan, a dust storm (haboob) generated by the harmattan wind from the region. Accessed March 31, 2026. CIRA Satellite Library (2026, March 30) Daily loop from: Meteosat-12. Accessed March 31, 2026. Fiedler, S. et al. (2015) The importance of Harmattan surges for the emission of North African dust aerosol. Geophysical Research Letters, 42 (21), 9495-9504. HESPRESS (2026, March 30) Morocco issues orange alert for cold weather, strong winds, and dust storms. Accessed March 31, 2026. NASA Earth Observatory (2026, March 12) Dust Outbreak Reaches Europe. Accessed March 31, 2026. Saleh, S.A. et al. (2025) A preliminary assessment of the spatial and temporal patterns of sand and dust storms over the Sahara. Scientific African, 28 (e02729).You may also be interested in:
Stay up-to-date with the latest content from NASA as we explore the universe and discover more about our home planet.
Dust Outbreak Reaches Europe
3 min read
Clouds of dust lofted from the Sahara Desert brought hazy skies and muddy rain to Western Europe.
ArticleWave of Dust Rolls Through Texas
3 min read
An advancing cold front kicked up a sharp line of sand and other small particles that swept over the high…
ArticleFinding Freshwater in Great Salt Lake
4 min read
Reed-covered mounds exposed by declining water levels reveal an unexpected network of freshwater springs that feed directly into the lake…
Article 1 2 3 4 Next Keep ExploringDiscover More from NASA Earth Science
Subscribe to Earth Observatory Newsletters
Subscribe to the Earth Observatory and get the Earth in your inbox.
Earth Observatory Image of the Day
NASA’s Earth Observatory brings you the Earth, every day, with in-depth stories and stunning imagery.
Explore Earth Science
Earth Science Data
Open access to NASA’s archive of Earth science data
Hence then, the article about march of the harmattan was published today ( ) and is available on NASA ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( March of the Harmattan )
Also on site :