Red alert: Dust storms in the northern border and Al-Jawf regions, and fog in the Eastern Province

The National Center for Meteorology issued an urgent warning, classified as a "red alert," cautioning of severe atmospheric instability affecting large parts of northern Saudi Arabia on Wednesday. This report comes as part of ongoing monitoring of weather conditions and atmospheric fluctuations in the region during this transitional period.

Weather details in the Northern and Al-Jawf regions

The center explained in its report that the areas targeted by the red alert include large parts of the Northern Borders and Al-Jawf . These areas are expected to experience strong dust storms leading to near-total loss of horizontal visibility, necessitating extreme caution from citizens and residents.

The report defined the time and place scope of the case as follows:

• Timing: The phenomenon starts at 9 am and continues until 6 pm.
• Northern borders: The effects include the governorates of Al-Uwaiqilah, Arar, and Tarif.
• Al-Jawf region: The situation covers Dumat Al-Jandal, Sakaka, Al-Qurayyat, and Tabarjal.

These dust storms are accompanied by active winds that increase the intensity of the dust movement, making driving on the highways linking these governorates a risky matter due to visibility dropping to less than one kilometer.

Climate context and safety warnings

These warnings are particularly important given the geographical nature of the northern regions of the Kingdom, which are characterized by open desert areas, making them more susceptible to the effects of surface winds that stir up dust and sand in high concentrations. The "Red Alert" is the highest level in the center's automated early warning system, indicating a severe weather phenomenon requiring immediate precautionary measures.

In such circumstances, health and safety experts advise the following:

• Avoid going out into open areas if you have respiratory problems, asthma, or allergies.
• Adhere to the speed limits on highways and use warning signals when visibility is poor.
• Postpone non-essential road travel during the storm's peak hours.

Dense fog in the eastern region

In a related but different weather phenomenon, the National Center of Meteorology warned of light fog affecting visibility in the eastern region . This phenomenon is attributed to high relative humidity levels in coastal areas and those near the Arabian Gulf, a common weather pattern during the early morning hours.

According to the report, fog is expected to begin at 1:00 AM and continue until 9:00 AM, affecting major industrial and vital cities including Jubail, Khobar, Dammam, Dhahran, Qatif, Ras Tanura, Al-Ahsa, Abqaiq, Nairyah, and others. Horizontal visibility in these areas is expected to range between 3 and 5 kilometers, requiring drivers heading to work during the early morning hours to exercise caution.

The National Center for Meteorology emphasizes the need to follow the updated reports through its official channels, as these alerts play a pivotal role in preserving lives and property, and reflect the technological development in monitoring weather phenomena in the Kingdom.