The National Center for Meteorology in Saudi Arabia issued its daily weather report, forecasting continued dust storms and strong winds affecting large parts of eight major regions. The report indicated that these storms will impact the Northern Borders, Al-Jawf, Tabuk, Al-Qassim, Madinah, Makkah, and Riyadh regions, with the effects extending to parts of the Eastern Province. The center also noted the possibility of fog formation during the night and early morning hours along the southwestern coastal areas of the Kingdom, urging caution.
The climatic context of dust storms in the Kingdom
Sand and dust storms are a common weather phenomenon in Saudi Arabia and the Arabian Peninsula in general, due to its geography dominated by vast deserts such as the Rub' al Khali and the Nafud al Kabir. These phenomena are particularly active during seasonal transitions and during the summer, when varying atmospheric pressure systems cause strong winds, sometimes known locally as "Shamal" winds, which carry enormous quantities of sand and dust over long distances. While these phenomena are an integral part of the desert ecosystem, they also present numerous challenges for the population and infrastructure.
Expected effects and preventive measures
Dust storms have direct impacts on various aspects of life. Locally, the health impact is most prominent, with asthma, respiratory, and allergy sufferers advised to avoid going out unless absolutely necessary and to keep their windows tightly closed. These storms also significantly reduce horizontal visibility, posing a risk to traffic on highways and main roads, requiring drivers to exercise extreme caution and reduce their speed. Regionally, these dust clouds can travel across borders, affecting neighboring countries and potentially disrupting air traffic at some regional airports. Therefore, relevant authorities, such as the Civil Defense and the Ministry of Health, emphasize the importance of heeding official warnings and following safety guidelines.
Sea conditions details
Red Sea: Surface winds are expected to be northwesterly to northerly in the northern and central parts, and southeasterly to southwesterly in the southern part, with speeds ranging from 15-30 km/h. Wave height will be between half a meter and one and a half meters, resulting in slight to moderate sea conditions.
Arabian Gulf: Surface winds will be southeasterly to southwesterly at 15-32 km/h, reaching up to 40 km/h in the northern part. Wave height will range between half a meter and one and a half meters, and sea conditions will be slight to moderate.
Special alert for the Eastern Province
The center had issued a special alert for the Eastern Province, indicating that it would be affected by dust storms starting at 9:00 AM and continuing until 7:00 PM. The alert included the governorates of Hafr Al-Batin, Al-Khafji, Al-Nairiyah, and Qaryat Al-Ulya, where strong winds and reduced horizontal visibility to between 3 and 5 kilometers would be expected.
