The National Center of Meteorology warns of reduced visibility
The National Center for Meteorology in Saudi Arabia issued a weather alert on Monday, warning of light to moderate fog that could significantly reduce horizontal visibility in parts of four major regions. The center explained in its report that the fog is expected to affect parts of the Eastern Province, the Northern Borders Region, Al-Jawf, and Asir, particularly during the early morning hours. According to the report, visibility may drop to between 3 and 5 kilometers in the affected areas, which include: Al-Udayd in the Eastern Province, Tarif in the Northern Borders Region, Al-Qurayyat and Tabuk in Al-Jawf Region, and Abha, Ahad Rafidah, and Khamis Mushait in Asir Region.
The importance of the phenomenon and its impact on public safety
Fog is a weather phenomenon that requires extreme caution, especially for drivers on highways and main roads connecting cities and provinces. Reduced visibility directly impacts traffic safety, increasing the likelihood of accidents. Authorities, such as the General Directorate of Traffic and the Highway Patrol, typically issue warnings to citizens and residents, urging them to slow down, reduce speed, use fog lights, and maintain a safe distance between vehicles. Air traffic at regional airports may also be slightly affected, potentially causing minor delays to some morning flights.
The climatic context for fog formation in the Kingdom
Fog formation is a relatively common phenomenon in some regions of the Kingdom during certain times of the year, particularly during winter and the transitional periods between seasons. Fog typically forms when the air near the Earth's surface cools to the dew point, causing water vapor in the air to condense into tiny water droplets. Factors such as high relative humidity, calm winds, and geographical features like the mountainous regions of Asir or the cold northern regions contribute to its formation. Following the National Center for Meteorology's reports plays a vital role in planning daily activities and avoiding potential hazards.
Weather forecast for the rest of the Kingdom
In addition to the fog warning, the center predicted the continued impact of active surface winds stirring up dust and sand, which may reduce horizontal visibility in parts of the Makkah, Madinah, Tabuk, and Hail regions. The effects of these winds will also extend to parts of the Qassim, Riyadh, and Eastern Province regions. Meanwhile, there remains a chance of light rain in parts of the western and southwestern highlands of the Kingdom, with continued fog formation during the night and early morning hours in those highlands, as well as in parts of the Northern Borders and Al-Jawf regions.
