The National Center for Meteorology issued its daily report on weather conditions on Monday in various regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, indicating significant weather fluctuations ranging from dust storms in the north to rain and fog in the south and west.
Weather disturbances in northern regions
The report indicated that weather maps show strong surface winds, stirring up dust and sand and creating dust storms that could cause near-zero horizontal visibility. This weather pattern is particularly concentrated in parts of the Tabuk, Al-Jawf, and Northern Borders . The center also did not rule out the possibility of scattered light rain in parts of these areas, urging caution while driving on highways.
Fog and rain in the west and south
In contrast, other regions of the Kingdom are experiencing different weather conditions, with the possibility of dense fog forming during the early morning hours, reducing horizontal visibility in parts of Madinah, Makkah, Al-Baha, Asir, and Jazan . This coincides with the potential for thunderstorms over the southwestern highlands, promising humid winter weather in those provinces.
Special alerts for the Eastern Province
In a related development, the center issued a special alert for residents of the Eastern Province , warning of blowing dust that will begin affecting the region from 7:00 AM until 4:00 PM. The affected areas include the governorates of Al-Ahsa, Al-Udayd, Abqaiq, and Hafr Al-Batin . This weather pattern is expected to be accompanied by strong winds and a decrease in horizontal visibility to between 3 and 5 kilometers, which may affect those with respiratory conditions and disrupt transportation.
The state of the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf
Regarding the state of the sea, the report indicated that the surface wind movement on the Red Sea will be northerly to northwesterly on the northern and central parts, and southeasterly to southerly on the southern part, with speeds reaching 42 km/h, with wave heights ranging between half a meter and one and a half meters.
In the Arabian Gulf , the winds are northwesterly to westerly in the north and center, and turn southwesterly in the south, with the same speed and wave height rates, where the sea state on both sides is described as light to moderate waves.
Weather conditions and their effects
These weather fluctuations are part of the Kingdom's typical climatic patterns during the transitional periods between seasons, when thermal low-pressure systems become active, contributing to increased wind speeds and dust storms in open and desert areas. These reports are of paramount importance locally to ensure the safety of travelers on the highways connecting the Kingdom's far-flung regions, as well as being crucial for the maritime and agricultural sectors.
Experts always advise asthma and allergy sufferers to avoid open spaces in such weather conditions, and to adhere to civil defense and traffic instructions to ensure public safety.
