File:Dust storm off West Africa (MODIS 2017-03-19).jpg

English: In early March 2017 dust from the Sahara Desert was blowing over western Africa and the North Atlantic Ocean towards the Canary Islands. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard NASA’s Aqua satellite captured this true-color image on March 8.

The dust storm last several days and was part of a “calima” – a hot, dust-laden wind that blows from the south or southeast towards the Canary Islands. The calima typically blows due to high pressure over Northern Africa combined with a cold front or depression passing north of the islands. The pressure differential moves hot, dry – and dusty – air from the desert northwestward.

On March 7, Spanish meteorological service issued a status ‘yellow’ weather warning for parts of the Canary Islands due to calima conditions. The dust concentration was expected to reduce visibility to 3 meters (9.8 feet), and as low as 1 meter (about 3 feet) at times. While the dust load did not become this severe, temperatures reached record temperatures. A record high for the month of March was recorded at Tenerife South airport on March 9, with temperatures reaching 34.2˚C (90.32˚F).