Red alert in Saudi Arabia: Dense fog covers the Eastern Province and Riyadh

The National Center for Meteorology in Saudi Arabia issued a red alert regarding the expected weather conditions over large parts of the Eastern Province and the Riyadh region, warning of a wave of dense fog leading to an almost complete lack of horizontal visibility, which calls for the utmost caution and vigilance by citizens and residents, especially those using highways and open areas.

Weather details in the Eastern Province and Riyadh

The center explained in its report that the weather conditions warranting a red alert include the Eastern Province governorates of Al-Ahsa, Al-Udayd, and Buqayq. The report indicated that these areas will experience dense fog accompanied by near-zero horizontal visibility, dropping to 1 kilometer or less, and that this condition will persist until 8:00 AM on Sunday.

In a related context, the red alert included the Riyadh region, where the Meteorology Department warned that the governorates of Al-Aflaj, Al-Kharj, and Hawtat Bani Tamim, in addition to the open areas and highways linking the governorates, would be affected by dense fog and lack of visibility, continuing at the same time as the situation in the Eastern Province.

Early warning system and color symbolism

This alert is part of the automated early warning system used by the National Center of Meteorology to alert the public and relevant authorities about weather phenomena. The "red alert" is the highest level of warning, indicating a severe weather event requiring immediate precautionary measures and strict adherence to instructions from the relevant authorities. This system aims to enhance preparedness and minimize risks arising from severe weather fluctuations that could affect lives and property.

Climate context and the impact of fog in the Kingdom

Fog is a common weather phenomenon in Saudi Arabia at this time of year, particularly during transitional periods and winter. It typically forms due to high surface humidity and low minimum temperatures, especially during the late night and early morning hours. The Eastern Province, due to its proximity to the Arabian Gulf, is among the areas most susceptible to this phenomenon because of the high humidity.

The importance of adhering to traffic safety instructions

Due to the dangers of driving in dense fog, security and traffic authorities, as well as civil defense, emphasize the importance of following public safety guidelines. Among the most important of these guidelines are:

• Reduce speed according to visibility conditions.
• Use fog lights or low beam lights instead of high beam lights, which may scatter vision due to light reflection.
• Leave a sufficient safety distance between vehicles to avoid sudden accidents.
• Avoid sudden changes in routes and use warning signals when necessary.

Travelers on highways in the areas covered by the alert are advised to postpone their road trips during peak fog hours if they are not essential, in order to protect their safety and the safety of others, and to follow weather updates through the official channels of the National Center of Meteorology.