The National Center for Meteorology in Saudi Arabia issued weather , indicating continued weather fluctuations affecting large areas of the Kingdom. These forecasts come amidst a transitional weather pattern affecting the region, characterized by active surface winds stirring up dust and sand, directly impacting horizontal visibility on highways and in open areas.
Weather details and affected areas
The center's report indicated the continued impact of active winds stirring up dust and sand, which are reducing horizontal visibility across large parts of the Kingdom, encompassing 11 administrative regions. This weather condition is concentrated in the eastern parts of the Asir, Al-Baha, and Makkah regions, and extends to include parts of the Riyadh, Madinah, Qassim, Hail, Al-Jawf, and Northern Borders regions, reaching as far as the northern parts of the Eastern Province.
In a significant development in the weather, the center indicated that winds could reduce horizontal visibility to near zero in parts of the Tabuk region, urging caution among motorists. Meanwhile, there remains a chance of light rain in parts of the western highlands, with the possibility of dense fog forming in parts of the Al-Baha, Asir, and Jazan highlands.
The state of the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf
Regarding maritime navigation, the Red Sea northwesterly to northerly surface winds in its northern and central parts, reaching speeds of up to 45 km/h towards the Gulf of Aqaba. This is causing waves to reach heights of over 2.5 meters, resulting in rough sea conditions in those areas. In the Arabian Gulf , winds are light to moderate northwesterly, with wave heights ranging from half a meter to one meter, and a calm sea state.
Special alerts for the Riyadh region
The National Center for Meteorology issued an advanced warning for the Riyadh region regarding a dust storm affecting several governorates. This phenomenon will begin at 9:00 AM and continue until 5:00 PM. The warning includes the following areas: Dawadmi, Al-Rayn, Al-Quway'iyah, Afif, As-Sulayyil, Wadi Ad-Dawasir, Az-Zulfi, Al-Ghat, Al-Majma'ah, and Shaqra. This weather condition is expected to reduce horizontal visibility to between 3 and 5 kilometers.
The importance of following weather forecasts
These reports are of paramount importance given the geographical nature of Saudi Arabia, where wind plays a significant role in shaping daily conditions and impacting public life. Experts consistently advise staying updated, especially for those with respiratory conditions and asthma to avoid direct exposure to dust, as well as for drivers on highways connecting different regions, since reduced visibility is a major contributing factor to traffic accidents during these weather conditions.
