Meteorology: Red alert and heavy fog in 3 regions of Saudi Arabia

The National Center for Meteorology issued an urgent alert, classified as a "red alert," warning of severe weather fluctuations affecting several regions during the early morning hours. This report comes as part of the ongoing monitoring of weather conditions to ensure the safety of citizens, residents, and drivers on highways.

Red alert details: Dense fog and zero visibility

The center explained in its report that large parts of three major regions will experience dense fog, leading to near-zero horizontal visibility (less than 1 kilometer). This weather condition will begin at 1:00 AM and continue until 8:00 AM, requiring caution.

The areas affected by this situation include:

• Makkah Region: Specifically, Taif Governorate.
• Al-Jawf region: It includes the governorates of Al-Qurayyat and Tabarjal.
• Northern Border Region: The situation is concentrated in Tarif.

Weather conditions in the Eastern Province: Dust and active winds

Concurrently with the fog wave in the west and north, the National Center of Meteorology warned of different weather phenomena affecting the eastern region. The region is experiencing active surface winds stirring up dust and sand, causing horizontal visibility to drop to between 3 and 5 kilometers.

This situation begins at 1:00 AM and continues until 9:00 AM, and includes the following cities and governorates:

• Jubail
• the news
• Dammam
• Qatif
• Ras Tanura

The importance of early warnings and road safety

These warnings are of paramount importance due to their direct impact on traffic flow, especially during the early morning hours when traffic is heavy as employees and students head to work and school. Fog is one of the weather phenomena that most often requires defensive and cautious driving. Authorities consistently advise using fog lights, reducing speed, and maintaining a safe following distance to avoid accidents.

The automated early warning system followed by the National Center for Meteorology reflects the great development in the meteorological infrastructure in the Kingdom, as the “red alert” aims to convey a clear message about the need to take maximum precautions, and it is the system used internationally to reduce the risks resulting from natural disasters and sudden climate fluctuations.

At this time of year, the Kingdom experiences typical weather fluctuations as a result of the transition between seasons, leading to variations in temperatures, surface wind activity, and fog formation in high and open areas.