Saudi Arabia weather: Dense fog and reduced visibility in 4 regions; warning issued to drivers
Warning of dense fog and reduced visibility
The National Center for Meteorology in Saudi Arabia issued an important weather alert on Monday regarding expected conditions during the early morning hours. The report indicated the formation of light to moderate fog over scattered parts of four major regions. The center explained that this weather phenomenon will lead to a noticeable decrease in horizontal visibility, which may drop to between 3 and 5 kilometers in the affected areas. This necessitates caution, especially for drivers on highways and local roads.
Affected areas and weather details
The warning included parts of the Eastern Province, specifically Al-Udayd, the Northern Borders region in Tarif, the Al-Jawf region in Al-Qurayyat and Tabuk, as well as the Asir region, which will be affected in Abha, Ahad Rafidah, and Khamis Mushait. Fog formation in these areas, especially the higher and inland regions, is a common weather phenomenon during transitional periods of the year, as the drop in nighttime temperatures causes water vapor to condense near the Earth's surface, forming low clouds that reduce visibility.
Expected effects and the importance of adhering to instructions
Reduced visibility due to fog has direct impacts on public safety, particularly road safety. Authorities, such as the General Directorate of Traffic and Highway Patrol, typically issue warnings to drivers to reduce speed, maintain a safe distance between vehicles, use fog lights, and avoid overtaking except in cases of extreme necessity. Air traffic at airports located within the affected areas may also be impacted, as aircraft takeoff and landing procedures require a certain level of visibility to ensure safe operations.
General weather conditions in the rest of the Kingdom
In a related development, the National Center for Meteorology expects active surface winds stirring up dust and sand to continue affecting parts of the Makkah, Madinah, Tabuk, and Hail regions. This effect will also extend to parts of the Qassim, Riyadh, and Eastern Province regions, potentially reducing horizontal visibility in those areas. Meanwhile, there remains a chance of light rain over parts of the western and southwestern highlands of the Kingdom, which will help to moderate the weather in those mountain resorts.
