Meteorology: Dust storms in Sakaka and Al-Jawf, reduced visibility
The National Center for Meteorology in Saudi Arabia issued an important warning this morning, stating that dust storms will continue to affect large parts of the Al-Jawf region, which calls for caution and vigilance from citizens, residents and highway users in the region.
Weather details in Al-Jawf
The center explained in its daily report that the dust storm is not limited to the city of Sakaka, but extends to three other major governorates: Dumat al-Jandal, Qurayyat, and Tabuk. The report indicated that this weather phenomenon is causing a decrease in horizontal visibility to between 3 and 5 kilometers, requiring extra caution while driving.
The Meteorology Department indicated that this situation will continue - God willing - until 9:00 AM on Monday, as the specialized teams at the center are working to monitor weather developments moment by moment and update alerts according to the latest developments through the automated early warning system.
The nature of dust particles and their geographical impact
Due to its geographical location in the north of the Kingdom and its desert nature, the Al-Jawf region is periodically affected by weather fluctuations, especially during the transitional periods between seasons. "Dust particles" are defined as very fine particles of dust and sand that remain suspended in the atmosphere for extended periods due to their light weight and the dryness of the air. They differ from sandstorms in that they can occur without strong, active winds at the same time, making the air appear hazy and its color tend towards gray or pale yellow.
Traffic and health safety guidelines
Given the nature of the roads connecting the governorates of the Al-Jawf region (Sakaka, Al-Qurayyat, Tabuk, and Dumat Al-Jandal), which are characterized as highways and open roads, reduced horizontal visibility poses a challenge for drivers. Therefore, traffic safety experts advise maintaining a safe following distance, using low-beam headlights to increase vehicle visibility to other drivers, and avoiding speeding.
On the health front, doctors and specialists recommend, especially for patients with respiratory illnesses, asthma and allergies, the need to reduce going out to open places in such weather except when absolutely necessary, with the importance of wearing medical masks to avoid inhaling fine dust that may irritate the airways.
The role of the National Center for Meteorology
This alert comes as part of the National Center of Meteorology’s ongoing efforts to enhance public safety and raise awareness of weather conditions, using the latest technologies in monitoring and forecasting, in order to ensure that accurate information reaches the concerned authorities and the public, which contributes to protecting lives and property and regulating traffic, air and land navigation in the affected areas.
