The National Center for Meteorology in Saudi Arabia issued an important weather alert on Saturday for the Al-Jawf region, warning of continued strong winds and dust storms that are significantly reducing horizontal visibility. This alert is part of ongoing monitoring of the weather conditions affecting the northern regions of the Kingdom, urging residents and highway travelers to exercise caution.
Weather details in Al-Jawf
The center explained in its daily report that the affected weather conditions include the city of Sakaka, in addition to several major governorates in the region, namely Dumat al-Jandal, Qurayyat, and Tabuk. Forecasts indicate that these areas will experience strong surface winds stirring up dust and sand, causing near-zero horizontal visibility, with the expected range between 1 and 3 kilometers. The center confirmed that these weather conditions will continue to affect the region until 2:00 AM on Sunday, requiring drivers to exercise extreme caution while driving at night.
The situation has spread to other areas
The current weather fluctuations are not limited to the Al-Jawf region. The National Center for Meteorology's report indicated that the impact of active winds stirring up dust and sand extends to large parts of the Tabuk and Northern Borders regions. Parts of the Hail, Qassim, Riyadh, and Eastern Province regions are also affected by this dust storm, reflecting the widespread nature of the weather system currently impacting the Kingdom. The Center had previously warned of the possibility of light rain and fog formation in several areas, further complicating the weather situation and requiring continuous monitoring of weather forecasts.
Geographical context and the importance of warnings
These warnings are particularly important given the geographical nature of the Al-Jawf region and the northern areas, which are characterized by open terrain that accelerates surface winds, facilitating the stirring up and transport of dust and sand over long distances. These weather phenomena are part of the usual fluctuations at this time of year, as the Kingdom is affected by air masses of varying pressure, leading to atmospheric instability.
Public safety recommendations
In these dusty conditions, health experts and relevant authorities advise following safety guidelines, especially for those with respiratory illnesses and asthma. They recommend avoiding direct exposure to dust and staying indoors as much as possible. Security and traffic authorities also emphasize the importance of adhering to speed limits on highways connecting Al-Jawf governorate and neighboring regions, and using hazard lights when visibility is reduced to ensure everyone's safety.
