Fog warnings issued in Saudi Arabia, with reduced visibility in 5 regions
The National Center for Meteorology in Saudi Arabia issued a new report warning of a wave of fog of varying intensity across wide areas of the Kingdom, including five administrative regions. These weather alerts coincide with the early morning hours of Tuesday, with forecasts indicating that traffic and daily activities will be affected due to a sharp decrease in horizontal visibility. Drivers and those using highways between the cities and governorates covered by the alert are advised to exercise caution.
Impact of the fog phenomenon in Saudi Arabia and the regions affected by the warning
The National Center of Meteorology explained that the fog phenomenon will continue until 8:00 AM in some areas, while in others it will extend until 9:00 AM. This weather condition is accompanied by a noticeable decrease in horizontal visibility, ranging between 3 and 5 kilometers in some places, while it drops almost completely to between 1 and 3 kilometers in other areas, thus hindering the smooth flow of traffic.
The alerts issued covered the following locations in detail:
- Eastern Province: Includes Al Khobar, Jubail, Dammam, Qatif, Ras Tanura, Khafji, Nairyah, Qaryat Al Ulya, and Hafr Al Batin.
- Riyadh region: includes Thadiq, Huraymila, Rumah, Dhurma, Marat, Zulfi, Ghat, Majmaah, Shaqra, and Dawadmi.
- Al-Qassim region: includes Al-Asyah, Al-Badai’, Al-Bukayriyah, Al-Thamiriya, Ar-Rass, Al-Mudhnib, An-Nabhaniah, Buraydah, Riyadh Al-Khabra, and Unayzah.
- Hail region: includes Al-Shanan, Baqaa, Hail, Samira, Al-Sulaimi, Al-Ghazala, and Muwaqq.
- Northern Borders Region: The situation is concentrated in Rafha Governorate.
The climatic background for fog formation in the Kingdom
Fog is a common weather phenomenon in Saudi Arabia during autumn, winter, and early spring. This phenomenon occurs when warm, moist air masses meet the cold ground surface, particularly in open, flat areas such as the Eastern Province, the central regions, and the north. High pressure systems and significant temperature differences between day and night play a crucial role in the condensation of water vapor near the surface, leading to the formation of low-lying clouds that touch the ground and are known as fog. Historically, these regions have experienced varying annual fog levels, necessitating the activation of traffic emergency plans to reduce accidents.
Expected impacts and traffic safety guidelines
The importance of these weather alerts extends beyond simply monitoring weather conditions, directly impacting multiple vital sectors both locally and regionally. Locally, the land transport sector is directly affected, as the likelihood of traffic accidents increases due to reduced visibility. The impacts may also extend to regional and international air traffic at major airports within these regions, such as King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, where air safety standards mandate strict procedures in cases of low visibility.
Accordingly, the security authorities and traffic departments in the Kingdom call on all drivers to follow the following safety guidelines:
- Adherence to the specified and reduced speed limits on highways.
- Leave a sufficient safety distance between vehicles to avoid sudden stops.
- Use fog lights and avoid using hazard lights while driving except when completely stopped.
- Follow the continuous updates issued by the National Center for Meteorology and official authorities before embarking on any land trip.
