The National Center for Meteorology in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia revealed in its daily report on the weather for this Tuesday that the weather fluctuations witnessed in most regions of the Kingdom continue, as several climatic factors combine to form a diverse weather scene between rainfall and surface wind activity.
Weather details and affected areas
The report indicated that conditions remain favorable for continued surface wind activity that stirs up dust and sand, potentially reducing horizontal visibility. This includes large parts of the Tabuk, Madinah, and Makkah regions, particularly their coastal areas. The effects of these active winds also extend to parts of the Northern Borders, Al-Jawf, Hail, Al-Qassim, Riyadh, and Eastern Province regions.
In contrast, the southern and southwestern highlands are experiencing different weather conditions, with partly to mostly cloudy skies and a chance of scattered rain showers, possibly accompanied by fog, particularly in parts of Jazan, Asir, and Al-Baha regions. The forecast extends to include parts of the northern regions of the Kingdom.
Climate context and the importance of warnings
These weather fluctuations are a natural consequence of the geographical and climatic nature of Saudi Arabia, a country characterized by its vast area and diverse terrain, making it susceptible to varying atmospheric pressure systems that influence wind patterns and cloud formation. Reports from the National Center of Meteorology are of paramount importance during such times, playing a vital role in maintaining public safety, whether for highway users who may be affected by dust storms, or for farmers and fishermen.
Experts always advise caution in such weather conditions, especially for respiratory and asthma patients when exposed to dust, in addition to the need for drivers to adhere to speed limits and maintain safe distances due to the possibility of reduced visibility.
Special alerts for the Eastern Province
In a related development, the center issued a special alert for the Eastern Province regarding blowing dust, with effects expected to begin at 9:00 AM and continue until 6:00 PM. The alert covers the cities and governorates of Jubail, Khobar, Dammam, Dhahran, Qatif, Abqaiq, Ras Tanura, Khafji, Nairyah, and Qaryat Al-Ulya. This weather pattern is expected to be accompanied by strong winds and a decrease in horizontal visibility to between 3 and 5 kilometers.
State of the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf
Regarding the sea conditions, the report indicated that surface winds over the Red Sea will be northwesterly to northerly at speeds ranging from 20 to 42 km/h in the northern and central parts, while they will be southeasterly to southwesterly at speeds of 16 to 25 km/h in the southern part. Wave heights will range from one to two meters in the north and central regions, and from half a meter to one meter in the south, with sea conditions ranging from slight to moderate.
In the Arabian Gulf, surface winds will be northwesterly to westerly at a speed of 13-25 km/h, with wave heights ranging from half a meter to one meter, and the sea state will be slight.
