The National Center for Meteorology in Saudi Arabia issued weather conditions for today, Friday, warning of varying intensities of weather fluctuations affecting several regions. The warnings included alerts for dense fog leading to reduced horizontal visibility, as well as active surface winds stirring up dust and sand, urging caution from citizens, residents, and drivers on highways.
Details of the fog wave and reduced visibility
The center explained in its report that large parts of five administrative regions will experience fog formation. This weather phenomenon will begin at 1:00 AM in some locations and 2:00 AM in others, continuing until 8:00 AM on Friday. The accompanying effects will range from reduced horizontal visibility to between 3 and 5 kilometers, to near-zero visibility (1 to 3 kilometers) in other areas. The affected areas include:
- Eastern Region: Al-Adid Governorate and other parts.
- Makkah Region: Maysan Governorate.
- Al-Baha region: Al-Qura, Al-Mandaq, Al-Baha city, Baljurashi, and Bani Hassan.
- Northern borders: Tarif and Al Qurayyat.
- Asir region: Al Namas, Balqarn, Tanomah, Al Harjah, Al Rabua, Al Farsha, Sarat Abidah, Dhahran Al Janoub, Abha, Ahad Rafidah, and Khamis Mushait.
Active winds and dust in the eastern region
In a related development, the National Center for Meteorology warned of other weather effects specifically impacting the Eastern Province, namely blowing dust and strong winds starting at 9:00 AM and continuing until 6:00 PM. The warning includes the governorates of Al-Ahsa, Al-Udayd, Abqaiq, Al-Khafji, Al-Nu'ayriyah, and Qaryat Al-Ulya, where the winds are expected to reduce horizontal visibility.
Coastal cities such as Jubail, Khobar, Dammam, Qatif and Ras Tanura are also experiencing active winds with speeds reaching (40-49) kilometers/hour, which leads to high waves and turbulent sea conditions, which may affect maritime activities and navigation in ports.
climatic and geographical context
These weather fluctuations are part of the usual climatic features in the Kingdom during transitional periods and winter, as the high humidity coming from the Arabian Gulf contributes to the formation of dense fog over the Eastern Province, while the mountainous terrain and highlands in Asir and Al-Baha play a major role in the condensation of clouds and their contact with the ground surface, which generates fog in the mountainous regions.
The importance of warnings and safety measures
These warnings are of paramount importance for maintaining public safety, as fog and dust directly impact traffic flow, especially on highways connecting governorates. Relevant authorities, including Civil Defense and Traffic Police, urge drivers to adhere to speed limits, use fog lights, and maintain a safe following distance to avoid accidents caused by poor visibility.
