The National Center for Meteorology in Saudi Arabia issued weather conditions during the early morning hours. The center explained in its report that large parts of five administrative regions will experience fog of varying intensity, urging motorists and residents of those areas to exercise caution.
Weather details and affected areas
The weather report indicated that the phenomenon began at 1:00 AM and will continue until 8:00 AM on Wednesday. The effects of this weather system range from a significant decrease in horizontal visibility, reaching 3-5 kilometers in some areas, to near-zero visibility (1-3 kilometers) in others, posing a serious challenge to traffic on highways and open roads.
The center has identified the regions and cities covered by the alert as follows:
- The Eastern Region: This includes Al-Adid and Dhablatun, where the open desert areas are affected by dense fog patches.
- Makkah Region: Fog is concentrated on the coastal areas and the highlands near them, and the list includes: Al-Ardiyat, Al-Qunfudhah, Al-Layth, Al-Muzaylif, Adham, Bani Yazid, Jadhma, and Yalamlam.
- Jazan region: Large parts of it were affected, including: Farasan Island, Jazan city, Al Darb, Bish, Abu Arish, Ahad Al Masarihah, Al Tuwal, Al Fatihah, Samtah, Sabya, and Damad.
- Asir region: The alert included the Tihami and coastal areas such as: Al-Barak, Al-Qahmah, Al-Majardah, Bariq, Rijal Alma’, and Mahayil.
- Al-Baha region (Al-Hujrah sector): It included the governorates of Al-Hujrah, Al-Makhwah, Far’ah Ghamid Al-Zanad, and Qalwah.
Climate context and the importance of warnings
This weather pattern is typical of the weather fluctuations that occur during transitional periods and winter. High humidity levels, particularly in coastal areas bordering the Red Sea (such as Jazan, Asir, and Mecca) and the Arabian Gulf, combined with lower nighttime temperatures, contribute to the formation of dense fog. This phenomenon is one of the weather patterns that directly impact daily life, especially transportation.
The warnings issued by the National Center of Meteorology are of paramount importance to ensuring the safety of lives and property. Drivers and security agencies, such as traffic police, rely on these warnings to manage traffic flow and take necessary precautions. In such weather conditions, authorities typically advise using fog lights, avoiding excessive speed, and maintaining a safe distance between vehicles to prevent traffic accidents that may result from sudden loss of visibility.
Expected impact
The fog is expected to gradually dissipate with sunrise and rising temperatures after 8:00 AM, restoring normal visibility. The center urges everyone to follow real-time reports via the automated early warning system and official social media platforms for the latest updates on weather conditions across the Kingdom.
