Red alert in Saudi Arabia: Heavy fog in Al-Jawf and the northern borders
On Saturday morning, the northern regions of Saudi Arabia, specifically Al-Jawf and the Northern Borders, experienced a wave of dense fog that significantly reduced horizontal visibility, prompting urgent intervention from the relevant authorities to issue the necessary warnings to citizens, residents, and highway users.
Red alert details and weather conditions
The National Center for Meteorology issued a red alert, the highest level of warning in its automated early warning system, cautioning against the prevailing weather conditions in the Al-Jawf and Northern Borders regions. The center explained that the effects of this weather included near-zero horizontal visibility, with visibility in some areas ranging from 1 to 3 kilometers. This condition persisted until 10:00 AM, requiring extreme caution while driving.
Weather forecast for the rest of the Kingdom
In a related development, the National Center for Meteorology reported continued cold weather and fog across large parts of northern and central Saudi Arabia. The weather fluctuations were not limited to fog; the report also indicated active surface winds stirring up dust and sand, reducing horizontal visibility in parts of the Eastern Province, as well as parts of Tabuk, Madinah, and Makkah, particularly along their coasts.
Red alert indications and the importance of the warning
The issuance of a "red alert" by the National Center for Meteorology is a significant indicator requiring immediate precautionary measures. From a regulatory perspective, this color signifies a severe weather phenomenon that could cause material damage or pose a risk to life if instructions are not followed. These warnings are of paramount importance in the northern regions of the Kingdom due to their open geography and the presence of international highways connecting the Kingdom to neighboring countries, where fog poses a real danger to land transport and shipping.
Seasonal context and safety measures
This weather pattern is typical of winter in northern Saudi Arabia, where conditions are favorable for radiation fog formation due to low nighttime temperatures, high relative humidity, and calm winds. In such conditions, security and civil defense authorities consistently urge drivers to use fog lights, maintain a safe distance between vehicles, and avoid sudden braking to ensure everyone's safety and reduce traffic accidents that may result from reduced visibility.
