The National Center for Meteorology issued an important warning regarding weather conditions during the early morning hours of Monday, indicating the formation of fog of varying intensity that directly affects horizontal visibility in large parts of five major regions of the Kingdom, where this weather condition will continue until eight o'clock in the morning.
Weather details and affected areas
The weather report indicated that the effects of this weather system include reduced horizontal visibility, ranging from 3 to 5 kilometers in some areas, and potentially reaching near-zero visibility (1 to 3 kilometers) in others. This necessitates caution while driving on highways and open roads. The center identified the areas and cities covered by the warning as follows:
- Eastern Region: Includes Al-Adid Governorate.
- Makkah Region: Al Qunfudhah, Al Ardiyat, Al Lith, and Adham.
- Jazan region: It includes a wide area encompassing Abu Arish, Ahad Al Masarihah, Al Tuwal, Al Fatihah, Samtah, Sabya, Damad, Al Darb, Baysh, Al Harth, Al Dayer, Al Reeth, Al Aridhah, Al Aydabi, Fifa, and Haroub.
- Al-Baha region: Al-Hajrah, Al-Makhwah, Far'ah Ghamid Al-Zanad, and Qalwah.
- Asir region: Al-Barak, Al-Qahmah, Al-Majardah, Bariq, Rijal Alma’, and Mahayil.
The importance of warnings and traffic safety guidelines
These warnings are of paramount importance given the topography of the aforementioned regions. The Jazan, Asir, and Al-Baha regions combine mountainous and coastal environments, making fog formation a frequent and dense phenomenon that significantly impacts traffic. The relevant authorities, including the General Directorate of Traffic, urge drivers in such conditions to use fog lights, avoid high beams which can impair visibility, maintain a safe distance between vehicles, and reduce speed to prevent traffic accidents that may result from sudden loss of visibility.
The role of the National Center for Meteorology and Modern Technologies
This report is part of the National Center of Meteorology's ongoing efforts to monitor weather conditions and protect lives and property, utilizing the latest meteorological and satellite technologies. These early warnings are a vital component of the national safety system, enhancing the preparedness of service and security agencies to respond to any emergency, and helping citizens and residents plan their daily activities to ensure their safety, especially during seasonal transitions when weather fluctuations are frequent.
