18:25, 23 March 2018

Residents of Southern Russia frightened by yellow snow and rain

Coloured precipitation fell in the Krasnodar Territory. Sochi, March 23, 2018. Photo by Svetlana Kravchenko for the "Caucasian Knot"

Coloured precipitation fell today in Southern Russia, users of social networks and residents of Sochi have reported. A sandstorm in Africa and an accident at some factory were named among the versions of the strange natural phenomenon. However, meteorologists have assured that the precipitations that fell down in the Krasnodar the Stavropol Territories pose no threat to people.

Andrei Bondar, the head of the Krasnodar Territorial Hydrometeorological Centre, said that precipitation in the form of red and brown snow and rain were registered in a number of districts of the Krasnodar Territory.

"The clouds have arrived to the Territory from the Mediterranean, Isle of Crete and North Africa, where sandstorms were recorded. Dust particles got condensed in the atmosphere and caused a coloured rain," the "Interfax" quotes Mr Bondar as saying.

He stressed that the precipitations "were not of chemical nature."

Today, all cars in Sochi streets were covered with a thick layer of yellowish dust, which caused panic among car owners and pedestrians, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.

Author: Svetlana Kravchenko

Source: CK correspondent