A Saharan dust cloud which has been affecting several Western European countries will move East and arrive above Romania's territory this weekend, but its effects should be slim, specialists say.

On April 4 and 5 low concentrations of Saharan dust may be recorded in Romania, according to the Romanian Meteorological Agency (ANM). Its sole effect will however be dirtying cars and house windows.

This phenomenon was caused by an Atlantic cyclone that came over Western Europe bringing dust from the Sahara Desert in northern Africa.  The 'Saharan dust rain' was already observed in the UK and France.

However, according to ANM specialists, the effects in Romania won’t be as visible as in Western Europe. It is not the first time either Romania witnesses this phenomenon; something similar happened in April last year, as well as two years ago.

England wheezes through haze of Saharan dust cloud, Reuters headlined this week. Saharan dust shrouded England's most famous monuments for days, prompted a rash of calls to the emergency services over health fears and even stopped Prime Minister David Cameron from taking his early morning jog, according to Reuters.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com