Red alert in Tabuk and Mecca: Dense fog, heavy rain, and potential flash floods
Advanced weather warnings in the Kingdom
The National Center for Meteorology in Saudi Arabia, the official body responsible for monitoring weather phenomena and issuing alerts, issued two red alerts—the highest level on the warning scale—for the Tabuk and Makkah regions. These warnings come as the center continues to monitor the unstable weather conditions affecting some parts of the Kingdom, which necessitate the utmost caution from citizens and residents.
Dense fog covers parts of Tabuk
In the Tabuk region, a red alert was issued for the governorates of Al Wajh and Umluj and their surrounding areas. The center warned of dense fog leading to near-zero horizontal visibility, potentially dropping below one kilometer. This weather condition began and is expected to continue until 7:00 AM on Sunday. The fog in these coastal areas along the Red Sea poses a significant risk to traffic, particularly on highways connecting the governorates, increasing the likelihood of traffic accidents. Authorities, primarily the Civil Defense and Highway Patrol, urged drivers to exercise extreme caution, reduce speed, use hazard lights, and postpone non-essential travel until the fog clears and visibility improves.
Heavy rains and possible flash floods in Taif
In the Makkah region, the red alert was focused on Taif and the surrounding highlands. The center predicted heavy rainfall accompanied by strong winds, hail, flash floods, and thunderstorms. This alert was in effect from noon until 8:00 PM on Sunday. Taif is known for its mountainous terrain and deep valleys, making it particularly vulnerable to flash floods during heavy rainfall. These weather conditions directly impact the safety of residents and visitors, as Taif is a major tourist destination. Authorities stressed the importance of staying away from valleys, floodplains, and low-lying areas, and not attempting to cross them.
Importance and expected impact
These red alerts reflect the severity of the expected weather phenomena and their potential impact on public safety and infrastructure. Locally, the affected areas are expected to experience disruptions to transportation, both on roads and, in some cases, to air and sea traffic. Flash floods may also cause road closures and isolate some villages, in addition to potential property damage. The early warning system operated by the National Center of Meteorology enables relevant government agencies, such as Civil Defense, Traffic Police, and the Red Crescent, to prepare in advance and raise their level of readiness to deal with any emergency, with the aim of protecting lives and property and minimizing the negative impacts of these natural phenomena.
