Dramatic orange skies in France caused by Sahara sand

A meteorological phenomenon has turned the sky an ominous orange in several areas of France this Saturday (February 6), with many people posting impressive pictures of it on social media.

The effect is due to a storm in the northeast of Morocco causing sand from the Sahara Desert to be whipped up into the air, which is then carried over to France, weather channel La Chaîne Météo explained.

It is an annual phenomenon but is not usually as dramatic as today.

Several observers in France posted pictures of the skies above them to social media.

The effect was seen across large parts of France, from Lyon to Grenoble to Toulouse.