The National Center for Meteorology issued its daily weather report for Saudi Arabia on Thursday, indicating continued weather fluctuations characterized by active surface winds that stir up dust and sand. This weather pattern is typical for this time of year, as the Kingdom experiences air mass interactions that lead to dust storms and reduced horizontal visibility.
Weather details and affected areas
The weather report indicated that the effects of strong winds will extend to large parts of the Kingdom, necessitating caution, especially for those using highways and open areas. The affected areas include:
- Riyadh region.
- Northern Border Region.
- Al-Jawf region.
- Tabuk region.
- The eastern parts of the Makkah and Madinah regions.
In a related context, the center did not rule out the formation of fog during the night and early morning hours, which may lead to a sharp decrease in visibility, in parts of the Tabuk region and the southern parts of the Eastern Province.
Climate context and dust effects
Dust storms and strong winds are frequent weather phenomena in the Arabian Peninsula, due to the region's desert nature and geography. Temperature differences between the Earth's surface and the upper layers of the atmosphere play a major role in the activity of these winds. These dust storms often have direct effects on public health, particularly for those with respiratory conditions and asthma, necessitating adherence to health and safety guidelines and avoiding direct exposure to the dust.
State of the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf
Regarding maritime navigation, the report indicated a relative stability in wave movement, with the forecasts being as follows:
- Red Sea: Westerly to northwesterly surface winds at a speed of 10 to 25 km/h, with wave heights of half a meter to one meter, and the sea state is slight.
- Arabian Gulf: Winds of variable direction (southwesterly to southeasterly in the north, and northwesterly to westerly in the south) with speeds reaching 35 km/h, and wave heights reaching one and a half meters, making the sea state slight to moderate.
Special alerts for the Eastern Province
The center issued a special alert for the Eastern Province regarding blowing dust that will reduce horizontal visibility to between 3 and 5 kilometers. This includes the cities of Khafji, Nairyah, and Qaryat Al-Ulya, beginning at 9:00 AM and continuing until 3:00 PM, while the impact will extend to Hafr Al-Batin Governorate until 6:00 PM.
The National Center for Meteorology calls on everyone to follow the periodic reports and adhere to the instructions of the concerned authorities to ensure public safety during these weather fluctuations.
