The National Center for Meteorology issued its daily weather report for Friday in Saudi Arabia, indicating continued weather fluctuations across several regions. The center explained in its statement that the chance of thunderstorms accompanied by active winds that stir up dust and sand remains, potentially reducing horizontal visibility in some areas, while dense fog is expected in others.
Areas affected by rain and fog
According to weather forecasts, thunderstorms with rain and active winds are expected across large parts of the Kingdom, specifically in eight key regions: Asir, Al-Baha, Makkah, Madinah, Hail, Al-Jawf, and the Northern Borders . This weather pattern also extends to parts of the Tabuk . This weather pattern is part of the usual atmospheric activity for this time of year, as the highlands and northern regions are affected by air masses that contribute to unstable weather conditions.
In contrast, the center warned residents of the Eastern Province and drivers on highways about the formation of dense fog, which may lead to a near-total lack of horizontal visibility during the early morning hours, calling for caution and vigilance.
State of the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf
Regarding the maritime situation, the report provided the following details:
- The Red Sea: Surface winds are easterly to southeasterly, ranging in speed from 10-30 km/h in the northern and central parts, increasing in the southern part to reach 50 km/h towards the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Wave heights reach more than two meters in the south, making sea conditions rough in those areas.
- The Arabian Gulf: Wind patterns will be northerly to northwesterly in the north and central regions, and easterly to northeasterly in the south, with speeds reaching up to 50 km/h during thunderstorms. The sea will be slight to moderate in the southern part.
The importance of following weather forecasts and safety measures
These reports are of paramount importance to citizens and residents, as staying informed about weather conditions in planning safe travel, especially given warnings of flash floods in mountainous areas and fog in coastal and eastern regions. Relevant authorities, including Civil Defense, consistently emphasize the need to avoid valleys and flood channels during rainfall and to adhere to speed limits on roads when visibility is reduced due to fog or dust, in order to protect lives and property.
This climatic diversity reflects the geographical nature of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which extends over vast areas with varied terrain ranging from humid coasts and rainy mountain highlands to northern regions affected by low-pressure systems, making daily monitoring of weather updates a necessity.
