Warning from the National Center for Meteorology
The National Center for Meteorology in Saudi Arabia issued an important weather alert this morning, Friday, regarding expected conditions in the coming hours. The center warned of light to moderate fog forming over scattered areas in four major regions, which will significantly reduce horizontal visibility. The report explained that this weather phenomenon began in the early morning hours and is expected to continue until 8:00 AM in some locations, while it may extend to 9:00 AM in others, urging everyone to take precautions.
Affected areas and situation details
The alert covered large parts of vital areas in the Kingdom, which are as follows:
- The Eastern Province: This includes the governorates of Jubail, Khobar, Dammam, Dhahran, Qatif, Ras Tanura, and many others.
- Makkah Region: This includes the governorates of Al Qunfudhah, Al Lith, Jeddah, and Rabigh.
- Medina region: The impact is concentrated on Al-Rais and Yanbu.
- Jazan region: It includes Farasan and Jazan.
The center noted that the direct impact of this weather condition is a decrease in horizontal visibility to between 3 and 5 kilometers, which poses a significant challenge for drivers and requires careful driving at low speeds.
Climatic context and causes of fog formation
Fog formation is a common climatic phenomenon in coastal and near-coastal areas of the Kingdom during certain times of the year, particularly during winter and spring. Fog typically forms when moist air near the Earth's surface cools to the dew point, causing water vapor to condense into tiny water droplets that remain suspended in the air. High humidity from nearby bodies of water, such as the Arabian Gulf and the Red Sea, combined with lower nighttime temperatures and calm winds, creates ideal conditions for this phenomenon in the coastal cities mentioned in the report.
Importance and expected effects
Reduced visibility due to fog has direct and significant impacts on various aspects of daily life and public safety. Locally, the greatest risk lies in the increased likelihood of traffic accidents on highways and main roads connecting these cities, necessitating vigilance from security and traffic authorities to manage traffic flow and warn drivers. Dense fog can also affect air traffic, potentially causing delays or rescheduling of flights at airports within the affected area, such as King Fahd International Airport in Dammam and King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah. Furthermore, maritime traffic at major ports like Jeddah Islamic Port and King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam may be impacted, affecting the movement of cargo and goods. Therefore, the warnings issued by the National Center of Meteorology are of paramount importance to enable all sectors and individuals to take the necessary precautions to ensure safety and minimize any potential disruptions.
