Weather in Saudi Arabia: Warnings of thunderstorms and dust
The National Center for Meteorology issued its detailed daily weather report for Saudi Arabia on Monday, warning of continued weather fluctuations in several regions of the Kingdom. According to the report, there remains a chance of moderate to heavy thunderstorms, accompanied by strong winds and hail, in parts of the highlands of Jazan, Asir, Al-Baha, and Makkah regions, which could lead to flash floods in valleys and ravines.
The effects of weather conditions in Saudi Arabia on wind and dust movement
Meanwhile, the National Center for Meteorology indicated that the impact of active winds stirring up dust and sand will continue, leading to reduced horizontal visibility across large parts of Al-Jawf, the Northern Borders, the Eastern Province, Riyadh, Al-Qassim, Hail, Tabuk, and Madinah, extending as far as Makkah. This dust storm will make driving on highways and open roads more difficult, requiring drivers to exercise extreme caution.
Maritime navigation conditions in the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf
As for the Red Sea, surface winds will be northwesterly to northerly at speeds ranging from 15 to 35 km/h in the northern and central parts, reaching up to 45 km/h towards the Gulf of Aqaba, while they will be northwesterly to westerly at speeds of 12-28 km/h in the southern part. Wave heights will range from half a meter to one and a half meters in the northern and central parts, reaching up to two meters towards the Gulf of Aqaba, resulting in a slight to moderate sea state.
In the Arabian Gulf, northwesterly to northerly surface winds blow at 18-38 km/h in the northern and central parts, and northwesterly to westerly winds at 25-45 km/h in the southern part. Wave heights range from half a meter to one and a half meters in the northern and central parts, and from one to two meters in the southern part, resulting in generally slight to moderate sea conditions.
Special alert for residents of the Eastern Province
The early warning system issued an advanced alert for the Eastern Province, including Khafji, Nairyah, Hafr Al-Batin, and Qaryat Al-Ulya, forecasting strong, dust-raising winds that will reduce horizontal visibility to between 3 and 5 kilometers. This weather phenomenon is expected to begin at 9:00 AM and continue until 6:00 PM.
Geographical dimensions and expected effects of weather fluctuations
These weather fluctuations are part of the transitional climate patterns that the Arabian Peninsula experiences annually. Historically, the Kingdom has been affected by air masses of varying temperatures and humidity, leading to the formation of these thunderstorms over the western and southwestern highlands, while dry surface winds contribute to dust storms in open and eastern areas.
At the local and regional levels, these conditions directly impact land and air transport, as well as public health, particularly for those with respiratory illnesses due to suspended dust. These periodic reports also play a crucial role in enabling municipal authorities and civil defense to take the necessary preventative measures to protect lives and property and mitigate damage caused by flash floods or dust storms.
