Weather warning from the National Center for Meteorology
The National Center for Meteorology in Saudi Arabia, through its early warning system, issued an advanced alert regarding the expected weather conditions for Thursday, warning of the formation of fog of varying intensity, which may reach dense levels, over large parts of seven major regions. The center explained that this weather phenomenon will begin in the early morning hours and continue until 8:00 AM, necessitating caution.
Expected impacts and areas covered by the warning
The effects of this weather condition include a significant decrease in horizontal visibility, which may drop to between 3 and 5 kilometers in some areas, with the possibility of near-zero visibility (1-3 kilometers) in others. In cases of dense fog, visibility may drop to less than one kilometer, posing a risk to public safety and traffic. The areas covered by the warning are:
- Eastern Region: Scattered parts of the region.
- Makkah Region: Includes Al Qunfudhah, Adham, Maysan, Al Khurmah, Al Muwayh, Turbah, Ranyah, and Taif.
- Al-Baha region: includes villages, Al-Mandaq, Al-Baha, Baljurashi, and Bani Hassan.
- Asir region: includes Al Birk, Al Qahmah, Al Namas, Balqarn, Tanomah, Abha, Ahad Rafidah, and Khamis Mushait.
- Jazan region: includes Darb, Bish, Jazan, Farasan, Al-Harth, Al-Dayer, Al-Raith, Al-Ardah, Al-Aydabi, Fifa, and Haroub.
- Northern Border Region: Concentrated in Tarif.
- Al-Jawf region: It is concentrated in Al-Qurayyat.
The climatic context and the importance of the phenomenon
Fog formation is a common weather phenomenon in the Kingdom during transitional periods of the year, especially in winter. The drop in temperatures at night and in the early morning causes water vapor to condense near the Earth's surface, particularly in areas with high humidity such as coastal regions or mountainous areas. These warnings are of paramount importance due to their direct impact on safety. Locally, reduced visibility directly affects road traffic, increasing the likelihood of traffic accidents on highways and main roads connecting cities. Authorities such as the General Directorate of Traffic typically issue warnings to drivers to slow down, use hazard lights, and maintain a safe following distance.
Potential regional impacts
At the regional and international levels, dense fog can affect air and sea traffic. Airports in affected areas, such as King Fahd International Airport in Dammam or the airports in Abha and Al-Baha, may experience delays in takeoffs and landings, or even cancellations, to ensure flight safety. Shipping traffic in major ports on the Arabian Gulf and the Red Sea may also be affected, potentially causing delays in loading and unloading operations. This underscores the importance of monitoring weather reports and being prepared to deal with their various consequences.
