Meteorological authorities warn of dense fog in 5 Saudi regions and reduced visibility
The National Center for Meteorology issued an important weather alert this morning, Monday, regarding expected conditions in several regions of the Kingdom. The center explained in its report that large parts of five administrative regions will experience fog of varying intensity, urging drivers and those using highways and open roads to exercise caution.
According to early warning data, the weather condition began in the early morning hours and will continue until 8:00 AM, with accompanying effects including a significant decrease in horizontal visibility ranging between (3-5) kilometers in some locations, and may reach a near-zero visibility of (1-3) kilometers in other locations, which poses a challenge to traffic.
Areas and cities affected by the weather conditions
The National Center for Meteorology identified the regions and cities covered by the alert, which were geographically distributed as follows:
- Eastern Region: The alert included Al-Adid Governorate.
- Makkah Region: The coastal and southern governorates were affected, including Al Qunfudhah, Al Ardiyat, Al Lith, and Adham.
- Jazan region: The situation included a wide area encompassing Abu Arish, Ahad Al Masarihah, Al Tuwal, Al Fatihah, Samtah, Sabya, Damad, Al Darb, Baysh, Al Harth, Al Dayer, Al Reeth, Al Ardah, Al Aydabi, Fifa, and Haroub.
- Al-Baha region: It included Al-Hujrah, Al-Makhwah, Far’ah Ghamid Al-Zanad, and Qalwah.
- Asir region: included Al-Barak, Al-Qahmah, Al-Majardah, Bariq, Rijal Alma’, and Mahayil.
The importance of adhering to traffic safety instructions
Under these weather conditions, adhering to public safety guidelines issued by relevant authorities such as Civil Defense and Traffic Police is crucial. Drivers are always advised to reduce their speed in foggy conditions to suit road conditions, use their vehicle's fog lights instead of high beams which can impair visibility due to light reflecting off water droplets in the air, and maintain a safe following distance to avoid sudden accidents.
Geographical and climatic context
This weather pattern is typical of the coastal and highland regions of the Kingdom during seasonal transitions and winter. High humidity from the Red Sea contributes to the formation of dense fog along the western and southwestern coasts (Jazan, Asir, and Makkah), while the mountainous terrain of Al-Baha and Asir plays a role in the condensation of low-lying clouds.
The National Center for Meteorology works continuously through its automated early warning system to monitor these weather changes with high accuracy, with the aim of providing citizens, residents and government agencies with the necessary information to take preventive measures, reflecting the technological development that the Kingdom is witnessing in the field of weather monitoring and the safety of lives and property.
