The Meteorology Department warns of dense fog and reduced visibility in 5 regions of the Kingdom

The National Center for Meteorology issued an important weather alert this morning, Monday, warning of varying intensities of fog that will directly affect horizontal visibility in large parts of five major regions of the Kingdom. This report is part of the ongoing monitoring of weather fluctuations to ensure the safety of citizens, residents, and drivers.

Weather details and warning timing

The center explained in its report that the weather conditions began in the early morning hours and are expected to continue until 8:00 AM in some areas, while extending until 9:00 AM in others. The accompanying effects range from reduced horizontal visibility of 3-5 kilometers in some locations to near-zero visibility (1-3 kilometers) in others, necessitating extreme caution while traveling.

Areas and cities affected by fog

The alerts included the following regions and cities:

• The Eastern Province: Jubail, Khobar, Khafji, Dammam, Qatif, Abqaiq, Ras Tanura, Al-Ahsa, and many others. These coastal and industrial areas are the most prone to fog due to high humidity levels.
• The Makkah region includes Al-Qunfudhah, Al-Lith, Taif, Adham, and Maysan, where coastal fog mixes with mountain fog in the highlands.
• Asir region: Al-Barak, Al-Qahmah, Al-Namas, Balqarn, Tanomah, Abha, Ahad Rafidah, and Khamis Mushait.
• Jazan region: Al Darb, Bish, Jazan city, and Farasan Island.
• Al-Baha region: Al-Hajrah, Al-Makhwah, Far’ah Ghamid Al-Zanad, Qalwah, Al-Baha city, Al-Qura, Al-Mandaq, Baljurashi, and Bani Hassan.

Climate context and the importance of warnings

Fog is a common weather phenomenon at this time of year in Saudi Arabia. Temperature differences between day and night, combined with high humidity levels from the Arabian Gulf and the Red Sea, contribute to the condensation of water vapor and the formation of dense fog. These warnings are of paramount importance due to their direct impact on land and sea navigation, particularly on highways connecting the provinces.

Traffic safety guidelines

In these conditions, traffic safety experts and relevant authorities advise drivers to follow safe driving guidelines during fog, which include:

• Reduce speed in accordance with visibility.
• Use fog lights or low beam lights instead of high beam lights, which may scatter vision due to light reflection.
• Leave a sufficient safety distance between vehicles to avoid sudden accidents.
• Avoid using hazard lights (flashers) except when completely stopped, to avoid confusing other drivers.

The National Center of Meteorology emphasizes the need to follow the reports issued by it through its official channels to obtain the latest updates on the changing weather conditions.