HOMEOWNERS and drivers are being warned to keep their hoses packed away as a massive ‘tongue of Saharan dust’ sweeps across Spain, bringing the dreaded ‘blood rain’.

The phenomenon, driven by strong southern winds, is currently pushing a dense cloud of suspended sand from Africa across the peninsula and the Balearics.

But the real headache for those living on the costas and inland will arrive when this dust collides with an incoming Atlantic weather front, experts at Meteored report.

Where the rain and the calima meet, residents can expect lluvias de barro — muddy rain that coats cars, terraces, and swimming pools in a thick layer of orange sludge.

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Today (Tuesday, 28 April) should see the threat of blood rain sweeping across Andalucia and Spain’s eastern coast

Where will the blood rain fall?

According to the latest meteorological models, the dust began creeping into southern Spain on Monday.

Today (Tuesday), the hazy skies will spread across Andalucia, the east coast, the centre of the country, and the Balearics, bringing the first scattered muddy showers.

However, Wednesday, April 29, is expected to be the peak of the episode.

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Heavy concentrations of dust combined with widespread rain will see significant mud deposits across Andalucia, Extremadura, Madrid, and areas of Castilla-La Mancha.

Only the extreme north of Spain and isolated parts of the Mediterranean coast — where the rain is expected to be weaker — are likely to escape the worst of the grime.

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Health warnings

Beyond the messy cleanup, the calima poses a genuine health risk, particularly for older expats.

The suspended PM10 particles can cause severe respiratory issues.

Those with asthma, breathing difficulties, or heart conditions are advised to keep their windows closed, avoid heavy outdoor exercise, and wear a face mask if the sky turns a deep orange.

The dust is expected to clear from most regions by Thursday, although some forecast models suggest it could return to the Mediterranean coast just in time for the weekend on Friday.
Click here to read more Weather News from The Olive Press.

HOUSE prices rose by an average of 12.9% in Alicante province during the first quarter of 2026, according to real estate appraisal company Gesvalt Tasaciones.

It said the average price in the Valencian Community stands at €1,648 per m2 with a year-on-year hike of 14.6%.

Despite the price rises, the Valencian region average prices are lower than the national median of €2,012 per m2.

RISING PRICES CONTINUE

A typical 90 m2 home in the region would cost €148,320, working out at almost €19,000 more than 12 months ago.

Split by provinces, Alicante leads with €1,863 per m2, but with the smallest percentage rise of 12.9%.

Valencia province has the highest increase, (€1,677 per m2, up 20.4%) and Castellon (€1,272 per m2, up 13.3%).

Nationally the biggest hikes were in the Murcia region(+19.0%), the Community of Madrid (+16.4%) and Asturias (+15.9%), followed by Cantabria (+15.5%) and Andalucia (+15.0%).

The smallest rises were in La Rioja (+6.1%), Extremadura (+6.2%) and Galicia (+7.1%).

As for rental properties, the Valencian Community charges an average price of €12.27 per m2 per month with an 11.8% annual rise.

Valencia is the province with the highest rents at €14.37 per m2 per month(up 9.8%).

Alicante charges €13.49 per m2 per month with a 12.1% hike while the lowest prices are in Castellon with €9.66 per m2 per month, though with the highest annual increase of 12.3%.
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