'Blood Rain' Warning: Spain to Be Caked in Mud as DANA Storm Collides With Saharan Dust

What's Coming?

The famous "blood rain" is set to cake swathes of mainland Spain in gloopy mud next week as the warm front that brought unseasonably high temperatures over the Easter weekend slowly gives way.

The phenomenon is forecast to hit as a massive plume of Saharan dust sweeps northwards and collides with an Atlantic DANA storm approaching from the west.

State weather agency AEMET wrote on X: "Starting Tuesday, a low-pressure system will circulate to the west of the Iberian Peninsula, bringing rain to areas in the western half of the peninsula. However, from its position, it will also favour the arrival of suspended dust, which will lead to calima. The rains could be accompanied by mud."

What Is 'Blood Rain'?

The calima — sometimes inadequately translated as "haze" — occurs when warm, dry air laden with fine dust and sand particles drifts north from the Sahara, aided by prevailing winds. It reduces visibility, casts a reddish hue over Spanish skies and severely hampers air quality.

When combined with wet weather, the calima causes dirt-filled showers known colloquially as "blood rain". These muddy downpours are notorious among expats and locals for the messy, hard-to-remove residue they leave on cars, terraces and swimming pools.

When and Where?

The DANA storm is expected to bring rain to the western half of the peninsula from Tuesday, with the Saharan dust arriving at around the same time. The combination of the two will produce the muddy showers across affected areas.

Last week, the Canary Islands were engulfed by an 800-mile-wide dust wave sweeping in from the African coast, casting an eerie dark orange hue across the skies.

Health and Practical Advice

People with respiratory conditions are urged to take precautions when a calima hits:

• Wear a mask when outside
• Avoid leaving home if possible during the worst of it
• Keep windows and doors closed to prevent dust seeping inside
• Avoid intense exercise outdoors

For everyone else: if you've just washed your car or cleaned the terrace, you might want to hold off on doing it again until the calima has passed. The muddy residue left by blood rain is famously stubborn to remove — and there's no point cleaning up until it's over.

This article is based on reporting from The Olive Press, published April 5, 2026. Weather conditions are subject to rapid change — always check the latest AEMET forecasts. This article is for informational purposes only.