Urgent warning from the National Center for Meteorology
The National Center for Meteorology in Saudi Arabia issued a red alert, the highest level of warning, today regarding a dense fog expected during the early morning hours. This alert covers large parts of three vital regions: Mecca, Al-Jawf, and the Northern Borders, urging residents and drivers to exercise extreme caution.
According to the center's report, this weather phenomenon is expected to begin at 1:00 AM and continue until 8:00 AM, leading to near-total loss of horizontal visibility, dropping to less than one kilometer in the affected areas. The cities and governorates specifically mentioned in the warning include Taif in the Makkah region, Qurayyat and Tabuk in the Al-Jawf region, and Tarif in the Northern Borders region.
Climate context and the importance of warnings
Dense fog is a common weather phenomenon in some regions of the Kingdom during certain times of the year, particularly in mountainous areas like Taif, where low nighttime temperatures combined with high humidity cause water vapor to condense near the ground. In northern regions such as Al-Jawf and the Northern Borders, fog formation is often associated with winter, characterized by cold weather and stable air masses. The National Center of Meteorology plays a pivotal role in monitoring these phenomena and issuing early warnings, in line with the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 to enhance disaster risk management and protect lives and property.
Expected effects and safety guidelines
Dense fog poses direct and serious risks to public safety, particularly transportation safety. Traffic on highways and main roads connecting these areas is expected to be affected, increasing the likelihood of traffic accidents. Therefore, relevant authorities, such as the General Directorate of Traffic and Civil Defense, emphasize the importance of drivers adhering to the following instructions:
- Reduce speed significantly and leave a sufficient safety distance between vehicles.
- Use fog lights and warning lights to increase visibility.
- Avoid overtaking and sudden maneuvers.
- Stop completely off the road in a safe place if visibility is completely zero.
Air traffic at nearby airports such as Taif International Airport and airports in the northern regions may also be affected, which may lead to the postponement or rescheduling of some morning flights.
Another warning: Dust storms in the eastern region
In a related development, the center issued another alert regarding surface wind activity causing dust storms in parts of the Eastern Province. This alert, in effect from 1:00 AM to 9:00 AM, covers the cities of Jubail, Khobar, Dammam, Qatif, and Ras Tanura. This phenomenon is expected to reduce horizontal visibility to between 3 and 5 kilometers, necessitating caution from residents of these areas, especially those with respiratory conditions and allergies.
