Yesterday, the Meteorology Agency and the town councils launched alerts about the arrival of the calima in Madrid. For the moment, it seems that the forecasts have surpassed reality and the capital has not been enveloped in an orange cloak as evident as the one experienced months ago. Even so, in case things get worse, we remind you how to protect yourself and your car from the masses of dust in suspension.
The air coming from the Sahara has been dyeing the sky of the Canary Islands for days. For today, Wednesday, October 5, alerts have been activated in various areas of Spain, Madrid among them.
From the AEMET they speak of the haze as “Saharan intrusions” that reach the interior of the peninsula driven by winds from the south.
This dust can remain in the air for hours and appear as a brown mist, as it arrives accompanied by mineral material (clay, quartz and bicarbonate) and plant material (pollen, spores…).
How to protect yourself from the heat in Madrid
Although the haze does not pose a health risk, the Community of Madrid has issued recommendations for people with respiratory problems to avoid exercising outdoors.
The Ministry of the Environment has released a statement warning of the arrival of a new African air mass that, although it is common, this time it is expected to be more important and visible as it arrives accompanied by wind and rain. This is how it looks from the updated AEMET map:
To prevent the quality of the air from worsening due to pollution, the regional government asks the people of Madrid to use public transport.
Other precautions to protect yourself from the haze are to avoid ventilating the house or to do it only what is essential and to drink plenty of water.
How to prevent haze from damaging your car
Cars can be affected by air masses in suspension. The layer of dust that remains on the windows and the bodywork can cause significant damage to the mechanics.
To prevent the dust that remains accumulated on the windshield from reducing visibility, it is essential to remove it before starting the journey. Now, you must be careful to wet the glass beforehand to avoid scratches.
Once the haze episode is over, it is advisable to remove and clean the engine filter (especially in those cars that spend the night outdoors). Experts also recommend cleaning or replacing the cabin filter if necessary; Otherwise, it can lose efficiency and allow a greater number of polluting particles to enter the passenger compartment.
Also remember that if you do not clean the car after a major episode of haze, you can be fined between 80 and 200 euros.
