Saudi Arabia weather: Fog and dust in 3 regions, urgent warnings issued

The National Center for Meteorology in Saudi Arabia issued its daily weather , indicating atmospheric fluctuations that will affect horizontal visibility in several regions of the Kingdom during the early morning hours of Monday. These warnings are part of the ongoing monitoring of weather conditions to ensure the safety of citizens and residents, especially those using highways and open areas.

Details of fog conditions in coastal and mountainous areas

The center explained that light fog will be the prominent feature of the early morning weather, beginning at 1:00 AM and continuing until 8:00 AM. This condition will be accompanied by a decrease in horizontal visibility to between 3 and 5 kilometers. This weather pattern will be concentrated in parts of three main regions:

• Makkah Region: Includes coastal governorates such as Al-Shuaiba, Al-Lith and Al-Qunfudhah, where the high humidity coming from the Red Sea contributes to the formation of fog.
• Asir region: The coastal areas, specifically Al-Barak and Al-Qahmah, are affected by this wave.
• Jazan region: The fog extends to include Darb, Bish, Jazan city, and Farasan Island.

Eastern Region: Active winds and raised dust

On the other side of the Kingdom, specifically in the Eastern Province, the National Center for Meteorology warned of strong surface winds causing dust storms. Alerts ranging from orange to yellow were issued, with the conditions expected to persist until 4:00 AM. The effects include near-zero horizontal visibility (1-3 km) in major cities such as Jubail, Khobar, Dammam, Qatif, Ras Tanura, Al-Ahsa, Al-Udayd, and Abqaiq.

The governorates of Hafr Al-Batin, Al-Khafji, Al-Nairiyah and Qaryat Al-Ulya are also experiencing dust storms that are reducing visibility to moderate levels.

The importance of warnings and their impact on public safety

These reports are of paramount importance given the Kingdom's topography and the direct impact of weather on transportation. In the western coastal regions, fog is considered one of the most dangerous weather phenomena, potentially causing confusion for drivers on highways connecting the provinces, thus necessitating caution, reduced speed, and the use of fog lights.

In the eastern region, the dust stirred up not only affects visibility, but may also have health effects on respiratory and asthma patients, requiring them to avoid direct exposure to dust and stay indoors as much as possible during periods of windy activity.

Climate context: Transitional periods of fluctuations

These weather phenomena are a natural part of Saudi Arabia's climate, especially during seasonal transitions or winter. Moist air masses from bodies of water interact with the cooler ground surface to form fog, while differences in atmospheric pressure contribute to dust-raising winds in desert and open areas. The accuracy of the issued warnings reflects the significant development of the Saudi meteorological monitoring system and its ability to provide early forecasts to mitigate potential risks.