Weather warnings: Dust storms and reduced visibility in 3 regions

The National Center for Meteorology in Saudi Arabia issued an important report warning of dust storms and reduced horizontal visibility across large parts of three major regions in the Kingdom. This weather condition is expected to persist until 8:00 AM on Monday, urging citizens and residents to exercise caution. The report indicated that this condition will be accompanied by a significant decrease in horizontal visibility, ranging from 3 to 5 kilometers.

Map of areas affected by dust storms and reduced visibility

The National Center for Meteorology precisely identified the locations and governorates that will experience these weather fluctuations, in order to alert residents and road users. The warnings included the following areas:

• Eastern Province: Includes Jubail, Khobar, Dammam, Dhahran, Qatif, and Ras Tanura.
• Riyadh region: The situation is concentrated in the governorates of Al-Quway'iyah and Afif.
• Makkah Region: Includes Al-Muwayh, Al-Khurmah, Turabah, and Ranyah.

Climatic context: The nature of sandstorms in the Arabian Peninsula

Dust storms are an integral part of the Arabian Peninsula's climatic history. The geographical location of Saudi Arabia, encompassing vast desert areas such as the Empty Quarter and the Nafud Desert, makes it susceptible to surface winds that carry dust particles. These phenomena are typically active during seasonal transitions, when air masses of varying temperatures collide, generating strong winds. Over the past decades, the Kingdom has developed advanced early warning systems, spearheaded by the National Center of Meteorology, to manage these events and mitigate their risks to the community.

Expected impacts on daily life and transportation

The phenomenon of reduced horizontal visibility has direct impacts on several vital sectors. Locally, traffic on highways connecting major cities is affected, requiring drivers to adhere to speed limits and use hazard lights to avoid accidents. These conditions also have health implications, with those most vulnerable to dust, such as asthma and respiratory patients, advised to stay indoors and wear masks when absolutely necessary to go out. Regionally, these warnings contribute to regulating air and sea traffic to ensure the highest safety standards.

Overall weather forecast for Monday

In addition to dust warnings, the National Center for Meteorology revealed details of the expected weather conditions for Monday across various regions of the Kingdom. Thunderstorms are expected to continue, ranging from moderate to heavy, which may lead to flash floods in valleys and ravines. These storms will be accompanied by hail and strong winds that will stir up dust and sand in parts of the Qassim, Riyadh, and Eastern Province regions.

While light to moderate rain is expected in scattered parts of Najran, Jazan, Asir, Al-Baha, Makkah, and Madinah regions, this will bring relatively mild weather to those highlands and western and southern regions.