In mid-February 2026, a dense cloud of Saharan dust spread across the eastern Atlantic, as winds carried fine desert particles westward from northwest Africa.
A widespread calima – a haze caused by Saharan dust – affected the region in mid-February, reducing visibility and degrading air quality in archipelagos along the western African coast. During the episode, authorities in the Canary Islands and Cabo Verde issued warnings advising residents to limit time outdoors because of increased health risks linked to high concentrations of particulate matter. In Madeira, elevated PM10 levels associated with the intrusion also led to poorer air quality.
Based on CAMS data collected at 07:00 UTC on 17 February 2026, the visualisation illustrates the extent of the dust transport, with particles extending from northwest Africa over the eastern Atlantic and affecting Cabo Verde, the Canary Islands and Madeira. The image shows the scale of long-range atmospheric transport that regularly carries mineral dust far beyond its desert source.
Such outbreaks occur when strong winds lift mineral dust high into the atmosphere, where it can travel hundreds or thousands of kilometres depending on prevailing circulation patterns. These events are common in parts of the eastern Atlantic basin, particularly during certain seasonal conditions, and can influence air quality, visibility and atmospheric composition.
The Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) provides near-real-time monitoring and forecasting of global atmospheric composition, including information on dust transport and intensity. CAMS forecasts issued at the time tracked the continued evolution of the plume, showing dust concentrations shifting across West Africa in the following days.
Featured image credit: European Union, Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service Data
