Saudi Arabia weather: Dust storms to continue in Riyadh and Najran until 2 AM
The National Center for Meteorology in Saudi Arabia issued an important weather alert for the coming hours, indicating that weather phenomena will continue to affect parts of the Riyadh and Najran regions. The center explained in its report that the weather conditions will include continued dust storms causing near-zero or reduced horizontal visibility, accompanied by strong winds that may affect traffic on highways and in open areas.
Details of affected areas and timing of the event
According to the report, the active weather system began Thursday night and will continue until 2:00 AM Friday. The center identified the areas under alert in the Riyadh region as including the governorates of Al-Aflaj, As-Sulayyil, and Wadi Ad-Dawasir . In the Najran region, the report indicated that the weather effects will include Sharurah and its surrounding areas. Horizontal visibility in these areas is expected to range between 3 and 5 kilometers, necessitating caution.
Safety and prevention guidelines during dust storms
Given the nature of these conditions, traffic safety and public health experts advise following a set of important guidelines. Drivers using highways connecting Riyadh to the southern regions, or desert roads in Wadi Al-Dawasir and Sharurah, must reduce their speed, use headlights and side lights to ensure clear visibility, and avoid areas with shifting sand dunes that may obstruct parts of the road.
On the health front, patients with respiratory illnesses, asthma, and allergies are advised to avoid going out into open areas during the alert period, to use medical masks when necessary to reduce the inhalation of dust particles in the air, and to keep windows and doors tightly closed in homes to prevent dust leakage.
The climatic and geographical context of the region
These weather fluctuations are part of the typical climatic features of the Arabian Peninsula, where desert regions such as Wadi al-Dawasir and the Empty Quarter (on whose edge Sharurah lies) are characterized by active surface winds that stir up dust and sand, especially during seasonal transitions or when there are differences in atmospheric pressure. While these phenomena play a vital role in shaping the desert ecosystem, they also pose a significant challenge to the transportation and healthcare sectors.
The National Center of Meteorology emphasizes the importance of following weather reports through official channels and smartphone applications to obtain accurate and up-to-date information about weather developments, in order to ensure the safety of lives and property.
