weather report issued today, Thursday, revealed expectations of continued weather fluctuations affecting most regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The report explained that the most prominent feature of today's weather is the active surface winds stirring up dust and sand, necessitating caution from citizens and residents.
Weather details and affected areas
The center indicated that the impact of active winds reducing horizontal visibility will affect large parts of the Kingdom, including nine major regions. Parts of the Makkah, Madinah, and Tabuk by this dust storm. The situation also extends to the western parts of the Northern Borders, Al-Jawf, Hail, and Riyadh the Najran and Eastern Province regions .
In a related context, the opportunity remains for thunderstorms with rain, as the sky will be partly to mostly cloudy, with the possibility of light rain that may moderate the weather in parts of the north of the Kingdom.
Climatic context and surface wind effects
This weather pattern is typical for the Arabian Peninsula during seasonal transitions or when the region is affected by air masses of varying pressure. The Kingdom's geography, with its vast and open desert areas, plays a significant role in amplifying the impact of surface winds, which easily carry dust and sand particles over long distances, leading to a noticeable decrease in horizontal visibility, particularly on highways and in open areas.
State of the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf
Regarding maritime navigation, the center provided a detailed report on the state of the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf, warning of high waves and rough seas in some areas:
- The Red Sea: Surface winds are ranging from 18 to 42 km/h, reaching up to 55 km/h towards the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Wave heights range from half a meter to one and a half meters, and may reach two and a half meters in the southern part, making the sea rough towards the strait.
- The Arabian Gulf: Northwesterly to westerly winds will prevail, reaching speeds of up to 52 km/h. Wave heights will be noticeably high, ranging from 1.5 to 2.5 meters, and may exceed this in the central and southern parts, resulting in moderate to rough sea conditions.
In such weather conditions, experts always advise fishermen and hikers to avoid going to sea due to the high waves, and drivers on highways are advised to be extremely careful due to dust and low visibility.
