The footage captured by the camera showed scenes of the storm covering large parts of the city, with the sky turning orange due to the dust particles, and the clips showed a clear decrease in visibility on a number of main roads.
The center had issued an advanced warning of the “orange alert” level regarding weather fluctuations affecting parts of the Makkah region, including Jeddah Governorate and Al-Shuaiba Center, as a result of surface wind activity that stirs up dust and sand, leading to a decrease in horizontal visibility to less than 1 km and southerly winds at a speed of 37 km/h over the governorate.
High sea waves
According to the center's statement, the weather conditions began in the early hours of this morning and are expected to continue until 8:00 PM. The center also indicated the possibility of high sea waves on the coasts, which calls for caution and vigilance for beachgoers and fishermen.
The relevant authorities called on drivers to exercise caution while driving, especially on the highways linking Jeddah and Mecca, and to adhere to traffic safety instructions.
Health authorities also advised respiratory and asthma patients to avoid direct exposure to dust and dirt, to stay at home as much as possible, and to use masks when they have to go out, in order to protect their health.
