The National Center for Meteorology in Saudi Arabia, in its weather report issued for Monday, revealed forecasts indicating severe weather fluctuations affecting several regions of the Kingdom. The report included warnings of strong winds that could stir up dust and sand, reaching the level of dust storms that cause near-zero horizontal visibility, especially in the northern regions.
Weather details and affected areas
The report indicated that the most severe weather effects will be concentrated in parts of the Tabuk, Al-Jawf, and Northern Borders , where strong surface winds are expected to stir up dust, necessitating caution while driving on highways and open roads. The center also did not rule out the possibility of scattered light rain in parts of these regions, which could help to moderate the weather somewhat after the dust storms.
In contrast, other regions are experiencing different weather phenomena, as there is still a chance of dense fog forming during the early morning and late night hours in the highlands and parts of the regions of Madinah, Makkah, Al-Baha, Asir, and Jazan , which may lead to a decrease in horizontal visibility.
Special alerts for the Eastern Province
In a related development, the center issued a special alert for the Eastern Province regarding blowing dust and suspended particles. The alert covers the governorates of Al-Ahsa, Al-Udayd, Abqaiq, and Hafr Al-Batin . According to the alert, this condition will begin at 7:00 AM and continue until 4:00 PM, accompanied by strong winds and reduced visibility to between 3 and 5 kilometers, urging caution for those using highways.
State of the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf
Regarding maritime conditions, the report indicated that surface winds over the Red Sea will be northerly to northwesterly in the northern and central parts, and southeasterly to southerly in the southern part, with speeds ranging from 12 to 42 km/h. Wave heights will range from half a meter to one and a half meters, and sea conditions will be slight to moderate. As for the Arabian Gulf, it will experience northwesterly to westerly winds in the north and central parts, and southwesterly to westerly winds in the south, with similar wave heights and moderate sea conditions.
Climate context and the impact of weather fluctuations
These weather fluctuations are part of the Arabian Peninsula's climatic pattern, where the Kingdom typically experiences surface wind activity during seasonal transitions due to variations in atmospheric pressure. Dust storms are a common occurrence that directly impacts daily life, affecting both land and air traffic and posing health risks to those with respiratory conditions.
These daily reports play a vital role in enhancing public safety, as relevant authorities such as Civil Defense and Traffic Police rely on them to issue directives to citizens and residents. Experts consistently advise against high speeds on the roads during such weather conditions, recommend keeping windows tightly closed to prevent dust from entering homes, and advise asthma and allergy sufferers to avoid open spaces.
