Weather warning: Fog and reduced visibility in 7 regions of Saudi Arabia

The National Center for Meteorology in Saudi Arabia issued weather conditions , warning of varying fog intensity that will directly affect horizontal visibility in large parts of seven administrative regions of the Kingdom. The center explained that this weather condition began in the early hours of Monday morning and is expected to continue until 8:00 AM, urging drivers and highway users to exercise caution.

Weather details and affected areas

The meteorological department indicated that the effects of this weather phenomenon include a decrease in horizontal visibility to between 3 and 5 kilometers in some locations, while visibility may reach near-zero (1 to 3 kilometers) in others, posing a challenge to morning traffic. The report specified the areas and cities covered by the warning as follows:

• Eastern Province: The warnings included the cities and governorates of Khafji, Al-Nairiyah, Hafr Al-Batin, Qaryat Al-Ulya, Al-Ahsa, Jubail, Al-Khobar, Dammam, Dhahran, Qatif, Abqaiq, and Ras Tanura.
• Riyadh region: Fog is concentrated in the northern and western governorates such as Al-Zulfi, Al-Ghat, Al-Majma’ah, and Shaqra.
• Makkah Region: The coastal areas, specifically Al Qunfudhah and Al Lith, were affected.
• Al-Qassim region: Fog covered large areas including Abanat, Al-Asyah, Al-Badai, Al-Bukayriyah, Al-Thamiriyah, Al-Khabra, Ar-Rass, Ash-Shamasiyah, Al-Ammar, Al-Fawarah, Al-Mudhnib, An-Nabhaniah, Buraydah, Riyadh Al-Khabra, Dhariyah, Uqlat As-Suqur, Unayzah, and Uyun Al-Jawa.
• Hail region: It included Al-Hait, Al-Sulaimi, Al-Shamli, Al-Ghazala, Hail city, Muwaqq, Al-Shanan, Baqaa, and Samira.
• Jazan region: The governorates of Abu Arish, Ahad Al Masarihah, Al Darb, Al Tuwal, Al Fatihah, Baysh, Samtah, Sabya, and Damad were affected.
• Asir region: The situation was concentrated in coastal areas such as Al-Barak and Al-Qahmah.

Climate context and the importance of early warnings

These weather phenomena are part of the usual climatic fluctuations that the Kingdom experiences during seasonal transitions and winter, when relative humidity levels increase and minimum temperatures decrease, creating conditions conducive to water vapor condensation and fog formation, especially in coastal areas and open agricultural regions. The Eastern Province and the Red Sea coast are among the most susceptible to these phenomena due to their proximity to bodies of water that supply the atmosphere with the necessary moisture.

These warnings are of paramount importance for maintaining public safety, as fog directly impacts traffic flow, especially during the early morning hours when commuters and students are traveling. The relevant authorities, including Civil Defense and Traffic Police, urge citizens and residents to adhere to safety guidelines while driving in foggy conditions, such as using fog lights, reducing speed, and maintaining a safe distance between vehicles to avoid traffic accidents.

The National Center for Meteorology continues its vital role in monitoring weather changes around the clock, using the latest technologies and satellites to ensure the accuracy of forecasts and deliver early warnings to the concerned authorities and the public, which contributes to raising the level of readiness and preparedness to deal with any weather emergency that may affect the course of daily life in various regions of the Kingdom.