Saharan dust pushes particle levels to 150 μg/m³ in Crete, authorities say peak expected Saturday
A Saharan dust episode has been affecting Crete since Friday afternoon, with airborne particle concentrations climbing sharply overnight. According to data from the National Observatory of Athens (NOA), levels reached 150 micrograms per cubic metre (μg/m³) in Adele, Rethymno, on Friday evening.
NOA’s research director described the episode as short, lasting roughly three hours, but significant. The institute said concentrations dropped quickly after 11 p.m. on Friday.
In a statement, meteo.gr and the National Observatory of Athens reported that an air-quality monitoring station at Rethymno Town Hall, part of the Integrated Weather Monitoring System of Rethymno, recorded concentrations approaching 112 μg/m³ on Friday night, November 13. A second station in the same network, located in Adele, recorded concentrations approaching 150 μg/m³ over the same period.
NOA noted that dust concentrations remained elevated for about three hours before falling rapidly after 11 p.m. on Friday.
When the dust is expected to clear
The Region of Crete’s Public Health Directorate said the dust transport would continue through the weekend and is expected to peak in the coming hours. According to the directorate, a gradual decline will follow from Sunday.
An earlier regional announcement had indicated that concentrations would begin rising early on Saturday, November 14, peak during the same day, and gradually decrease on Sunday, November 15.
