The National Center for Meteorology in Saudi Arabia issued its detailed daily weather report for Friday, revealing significant weather fluctuations including rainfall, surface wind activity, and fog formation across large areas of the Kingdom. This report is part of the ongoing monitoring of weather conditions to ensure the safety of citizens and residents during the weekend.
Weather details and affected areas
The center explained in its official statement that weather maps indicate the continued impact of active winds stirring up dust and sand, leading to a significant decrease in horizontal visibility. This weather condition affects large parts of the Tabuk, Al-Jawf, Northern Borders, Hail, Madinah, and Makkah . Due to their open geography, these areas are more susceptible to the effects of surface winds, which may disrupt traffic on the highways connecting them.
In a related development, there is a chance of light to moderate thunderstorms, accompanied by fog that will reduce visibility, in parts of the aforementioned regions, as well as extending to the mountainous areas of Al-Baha and Asir . These forecasts are particularly important given the topography of these southern regions, which requires extra caution while driving in rainy and foggy conditions.
State of the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf
Regarding the marine conditions, the center provided a detailed breakdown of wave and wind movements:
- The Red Sea: The northern part is experiencing northwesterly to westerly winds reaching speeds of up to 55 km/h, with wave heights exceeding 2.5 meters, resulting in rough sea conditions. In the central and southern parts, winds are southeasterly to southwesterly, reaching speeds of up to 50 km/h towards the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, with wave heights exceeding 2 meters.
- Arabian Gulf: Winds will be northwesterly, later shifting to southeasterly in the northern part, while they will be southeasterly to northeasterly in the central and southern parts. Wave heights will generally range between half a meter and one and a half meters, resulting in slight to moderate sea conditions.
The importance and impact of warnings
These warnings come at a crucial time, coinciding with the weekend, a period of increased road travel and intercity trips. Authorities are urging drivers and highway users to exercise caution, particularly in areas experiencing dust or fog. Fishermen and those venturing out to sea in the Red Sea are also advised to monitor weather updates due to high waves and rough seas in some areas, which could pose a risk to small boats.
