WEATHER Update: Dust Storm warning issued for TRNC

The TRNC Meteorological Service has announced that a new dust storm has blown in from North Africa.

There is going to be an increase in dust in the air this weekend in TRNC and authorities are advising the sensitive groups to avoid the outdoors due to a risk of negative effects on human health.

Earlier this week, the hourly concentration of breathable particles in ambient air with diameter less than 10 micrometres (PM10) ranged between the maximum value of 140 mg/m3 (micrograms per cubic meter) and minimum of 29 mg/m3.

It is expected that the average concentration over the entire period will exceed the corresponding limit value of 50 mg/m3.

Authorities put special emphasis in advising members of vulnerable groups, such as young children, the elderly, and patients with health problems, to take precaution and avoid the outdoors or open spaces until the current situation goes back to normal.

UPDATE 1: The dust storm that was forecast almost missed TRNC, according to the latest weather bulletin from the Ministry of Information. Some areas in Nicosia and Girne were sparsely affected.

Credit: BRTK World