Saudi Arabia weather: Dense fog and reduced visibility in 5 regions – Meteorological warning

The National Center for Meteorology issued an important and urgent alert regarding weather conditions during the early morning hours of Tuesday. The Kingdom is experiencing a weather phenomenon characterized by the formation of fog of varying intensity, directly impacting horizontal visibility in five major regions. The report indicated that the weather conditions would begin at 2:00 AM and continue until 8:00 AM, necessitating caution from drivers and highway users.

Weather details and affected areas

The center indicated that the effects of this weather system 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 road users. The center identified the affected areas and cities as follows:

• The Eastern Province includes Jubail, Khobar, Khafji, Dammam, Qatif, and Ras Tanura. These coastal areas are prone to fog due to high humidity levels coming from the Arabian Gulf.
• Makkah Region: Includes Al Qunfudhah, Al Lith, Al Kamil, in addition to the highlands in Taif and Maysan.
• Madinah: The governorates of Wadi Al-Fara’, Al-Ais and Khaybar are affected.
• Al-Baha region: The alert includes villages, Al-Mandaq, Al-Baha city, Baljurashi, and Bani Hassan.
• Asir region: The cities of Abha, Al Namas, Balqarn, Tanomah, and Khamis Mushait are affected.

The climatic and geographical context of the phenomenon

This weather phenomenon occurs within the context of the usual climatic fluctuations that Saudi Arabia experiences during seasonal transitions or in winter. The Kingdom's diverse geography plays a crucial role in fog formation; in the eastern and coastal regions (such as Dammam, Jeddah, and Al-Qunfudhah), fog typically forms due to the air becoming saturated with maritime moisture combined with lower nighttime temperatures, a phenomenon known as radiation fog or transport fog.

In mountainous and highland areas such as Asir, Al-Baha, and Taif, fog forms as a result of clouds touching the ground in high altitudes, or as a result of humid air rising and cooling in the upper layers, creating a distinctive winter atmosphere, but at the same time posing significant traffic challenges due to the winding nature of the mountain roads.

The importance of warnings and safety guidelines

The warnings issued by the National Center of Meteorology are of paramount importance for maintaining public safety. During these weather conditions, it is always advisable to follow traffic and civil defense guidelines, which typically include reducing speed, using fog lights instead of high beams that can impair visibility, and maintaining a safe distance between vehicles. Adhering to these warnings is a crucial part of raising public awareness to reduce traffic accidents that can result from sudden loss of visibility, especially during the early morning hours when commuters and students are traveling.