Saudi Meteorology: Dense fog and reduced visibility in 10 regions
The National Center for Meteorology issued an urgent report on the expected weather conditions, warning of a wave of fog of varying intensity, reaching the level of density, which will directly affect large parts of 10 administrative regions in the Kingdom, during the early morning hours of Friday.
Weather details and reduced visibility
The center explained in its report that the effects of this weather condition include a decrease in horizontal visibility, ranging between 3 and 5 kilometers in some areas, while other areas are experiencing near-zero visibility, dropping to between 1 and 3 kilometers. In the most affected areas, the center warned of a complete lack of horizontal visibility (less than one kilometer), necessitating the utmost caution.
Affected areas and cities
The alert included a wide range of cities and provinces in the following regions:
- Eastern Province: Jubail, Khobar, Dammam, Qatif, Ras Tanura, Al-Ahsa, Al-Udayd, Abqaiq, Hafr Al-Batin, Khafji, Al-Nairiyah, and Qaryat Al-Ulya.
- Riyadh Region: The capital Riyadh, Al-Zulfi, Al-Ghat, Al-Majma’ah, Shaqra, Thadiq, Huraymila, Rumah, Dhurma, Marat, and Al-Diriyah.
- Asir region: Abha, Ahad Rafidah, Al Namas, Balqarn, Tanomah, Khamis Mushait, Sarat Abidah, Al Majardah, Rijal Alma, Mahayil, Al Harjah, Al Rabua, Al Farsha, and Dhahran Al Janoub.
- Tabuk region: Tabuk city and Tayma.
- Al-Jawf region: Sakaka, Dumat Al-Jandal, Al-Qurayyat, and Tabarjal.
- Northern borders: Arar, Rafha, and Al-Uwaiqilah.
- Hail region: Hail city, Al-Shanan, Baqaa, Samira, Al-Hait, Al-Sulaimi, Al-Shamli, Al-Ghazala, and Muwaqq.
- Al-Qassim region: Buraidah, Unaizah, Ar-Rass, Al-Asyah, Al-Badai, Al-Bukayriyah, Al-Thamiriyah, Ash-Shamasiyah, Al-Ammar, Al-Mudhnib, Uyun Al-Jawa, Abanat, Al-Khabra, Al-Fawarah, An-Nabhaniah, Riyadh Al-Khabra, Shariah, and Uqlat As-Suqur.
- Jazan region: Abu Arish, Ahad Al Masarihah, Al Tuwal, Al Fatihah, Samtah, Sabya, Damad, Al Harth, Al Dayer, Al Reeth, Al Ardah, Al Eidabi, Fifa, and Haroub.
- Al-Baha region: Al-Baha city, Al-Aqiq, Al-Mandaq, Al-Qura, Baljurashi, and Bani Hassan.
Climate context and the importance of warnings
These weather phenomena are part of the seasonal changes the Kingdom experiences, where high humidity levels and low minimum temperatures during the night and early morning hours contribute to the formation of dense fog. This phenomenon is common in coastal areas and mountainous regions, as well as in the central and northern regions during winter and seasonal transitions.
These warnings are of paramount importance due to their direct impact on transportation and travel. Dense fog is a major factor affecting the flow of traffic on highways connecting the Kingdom's far-flung regions, especially key routes such as the Riyadh-Eastern Province highway and the Riyadh-Qassim highway.
Public safety recommendations
In these conditions, traffic safety experts and relevant authorities advise drivers to follow safe driving guidelines during fog, which include using special fog lights, avoiding the use of high beams that may obstruct vision due to light reflection, in addition to leaving a sufficient safety distance between vehicles, and reducing speed in accordance with the available visibility to ensure everyone's safety.
