Today's weather in Saudi Arabia: Winds, dust, and fog
The National Center for Meteorology in Saudi Arabia issued its daily weather report for Thursday , indicating continued weather fluctuations affecting several regions. The report included forecasts of active surface winds stirring up dust and sand, potentially reducing horizontal visibility, as well as the possibility of fog formation in the early morning hours in some coastal areas.
Weather details and affected areas
The center explained in its statement that the impact of active winds stirring up dust and sand will be most pronounced in parts of Al-Jawf, the Northern Borders, Hail, and Al-Qassim regions. This weather pattern will also extend to the eastern parts of the Madinah region. Meanwhile, the possibility of dense fog remains during the night and early morning hours along the coastal areas of the Makkah and Eastern regions, necessitating caution while driving.
Climate context and the importance of warnings
These weather fluctuations are part of the typical climatic pattern in the Arabian Peninsula during transitional periods, where surface winds become active due to changes in atmospheric pressure, contributing to dust storms, especially in open and desert areas. These reports are of paramount importance to those traveling on highways between cities, as dust and fog reduce visibility, necessitating adherence to traffic safety regulations.
Experts also advise respiratory and asthma patients in dust-affected areas to take necessary precautions and avoid direct exposure to dusty conditions to protect their health.
State of the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf
Regarding the state of the sea, the report indicated the following details:
- Red Sea: Surface winds will be northwesterly to northerly in the northern and central parts at speeds of 25-45 km/h, reaching up to 55 km/h towards the Gulf of Aqaba. In the southern part, winds will be southeasterly to southwesterly. Wave heights will range from 1.5 to 2.5 meters in the north and central regions, resulting in moderate to rough sea conditions.
- Arabian Gulf: Winds will be northeasterly to southeasterly in the northern and central parts, and northeasterly to northwesterly in the south. The sea state will be slight with waves not exceeding one meter in height.
Special alerts for the Eastern Province and Riyadh
The automated early warning system issued special alerts regarding blowing dust affecting parts of the Eastern Province and Riyadh region today, Thursday. In the Eastern Province, the affected areas include Hafr Al-Batin, Al-Nairiyah, and Qaryat Al-Ulya, while in Riyadh, it includes Al-Zulfi, Al-Ghat, Al-Majma'ah, and Shaqra. The dust storm is expected to begin at 9:00 AM and continue until 6:00 PM, accompanied by a reduction in horizontal visibility to between 3 and 5 kilometers.
