Sirocco winds originate in hot, dry air over the Saharan desert. They pick up dust as they blow northward over North Africa. This dust is then carried offshore and over the southern Mediterranean Sea causing reductions in visibility.

What language is Sirocco?

Sirocco derives from Arabic: شرقية‎, romanized: šarqiyya, lit. 'eastern'. Various names for this wind in other languages include: Italian: scirocco.

What is Sirocco called in Spain?

As the air travels northward across the Mediterranean Sea, the Sirocco picks up much moisture because of its high temperature, and reaches Spain (known as Leveche, Solano, Jaloque or Xaloque), Portugal as Xaroco, France as Marin, Malta, Sicily, southern Italy as Scirocco, Croatia as Jugo and even Greece as a very ...