While Ireland might be dealing with the terrifying prospect of ex-hurricane Ophelia, here in Manchester we are fortunate enough to just be dealing with a strange coloured sky. If you've noticed the low cloud and orange tint and wondered what it is, it seems the Sahara is to blame.

It is dust from the African desert and debris from forest fires in Spain and Portugal that is now travelling across the entire country with people on the South Coast seemingly experiencing it most of all this morning, although it has since spread up North.

Ophelia has pulled in unseasonably warm air up from Spain and North Africa, bringing temperatures in the early 20s over the weekend.

People in Manchester are now tweeting pictures of the sky and in particular the sun which has a red glow to it.

Mike Perry even compared it to looking like a scene from new movie Blade Runner 2049.

Patricia Brennan from Audenshaw got a scare off her daughter when when she shouted for her mum at the top of her voice, "I thought something was wrong," she said.

"My daughter told me to look outside. Is it the sun or is it a planet (She is planets about the planets in year 3 at school). My reply was I don't know but it must be the sun!"

Dr. Dave Reynolds from The Weather Channel has commented on why this has happened saying is is down to four factors:

Winds were strong over Iberia on Sunday, which has resulted in dust from there being raised and then blown to the UK on a strong south to south-westerly flow. Some of the dust may be particulates from the fires, although I think regular fine-grained dust would account for the majority.

This is a result of Ophelia to the west of Portugal (on Sunday) and high pressure over the western Mediterranean, although it doesn't necessarily need a hurricane to do this (a regular, north Atlantic low would be just as good - so long as all the other conditions are met).

Furthermore, and importantly, the cold front of Ophelia moved across southern Britain this morning and was very weak - this meant there was not much rain to wash the dust out.

The winds are still southerly, despite the cold front coming through. Usually winds would veer and fresher (=clearer) Atlantic air would come in behind a cold front - but this won't happen until later today. As fresher air moves in later today, expect the colouration to gradually fade.

(Image: Wayne Guns/PA Wire)

Ophelia is due to hit the UK at some point with amber wind warnings issued for Northern Ireland, parts of Scotland and Wales while the South Coast has a yellow warning, as well as here in the North West. This has resulted in numerous flights being cancelled from Ryanair, Aer Lingus and even British Airways.

The sky cleared in the afternoon over Manchester but around mid-day it was at its most sepia-looking.

Many people took to photo sharing app Instagram to upload some pictures from Media City that frankly do not look real.

Met Office forecaster Grahame Madge said the former hurricane is pulling air and dust up from southern Europe and Africa.

"It's all connected with Ophelia, on the eastern side of the low pressure system air is coming up in the southern direction," he said.

"Air is being pulled from southern Europe and Africa and that air contains a lot of dust.

"So it's most likely the appearance of sunset at midday is caused by the particles scattering the light and giving the appearance of a red sun.

"It's certainly spectacular at the moment and quite a talking point, we've had a lot of calls about it."