Today's weather in Saudi Arabia: Thunderstorms and a severe heat wave
The National Center for Meteorology issued its detailed daily weather report for Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, indicating continued weather fluctuations and significant temperature variations across the Kingdom. According to the report, the chance of thunderstorms of varying intensity remains, accompanied by strong, active winds that will stir up dust and sand in the highlands of Jazan, Asir, and Al-Baha regions, extending to the highlands of Makkah. These forecasts come as other areas are experiencing continued surface wind activity that is stirring up dust and sand, particularly in parts of Al-Jawf, the Northern Borders, and Riyadh regions, as well as the northern parts of the Eastern Province. This may lead to reduced horizontal visibility on highways and in open areas.
Details of maritime traffic and the state of the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf
Regarding maritime navigation and sea conditions, the center explained that surface winds on the Red Sea will be northwesterly to northerly at speeds ranging from 25 to 45 kilometers per hour in the northern and central parts, while they will be northwesterly to westerly at speeds ranging from 10 to 30 kilometers per hour in the southern part. Wave heights will range from one to two meters in the northern and central parts, and from half a meter to one meter in the southern part, resulting in moderate sea conditions in the north and central parts, and slight sea conditions in the south. In the Arabian Gulf, surface winds will be northwesterly to northerly at speeds of 18-38 km/h in the northern and central parts, and northwesterly to westerly at speeds of 25-45 km/h in the southern part, with wave heights reaching two meters in the southern part and moderate sea conditions.
The impact of weather conditions in Saudi Arabia on temperatures in the Eastern Province
On the other hand, the National Center for Meteorology issued a warning about a severe heat wave hitting Al-Udayd Governorate in the Eastern Province today. The warning indicated that this weather phenomenon would begin at 11:00 AM and continue until 5:00 PM, with temperatures expected to reach record highs of between 47 and 48 degrees Celsius. Authorities urged citizens and residents in these areas to avoid direct sun exposure during peak hours and to drink plenty of fluids to prevent heat exhaustion and ensure public safety.
The geographical context and local impact of weather fluctuations in the Kingdom
Historically, Saudi Arabia has been characterized by a unique topographical and climatic diversity. The western and southwestern highlands contribute to the formation of cold air fronts that meet with moist air masses coming from the Red Sea, resulting in continuous seasonal thunderstorms during the summer. In contrast, the eastern and central regions are influenced by the Indian monsoon low, which brings very hot and dry air masses. The importance of these periodic reports lies in enabling service and security agencies, such as Civil Defense and Traffic Police, to take the necessary preventive measures to ensure the safety of highways, regulate traffic during dust storms, and protect lives and property in valleys and floodplains in the highlands.
