Today's weather: Winds and dust in Mecca and the Eastern Province, with weather warnings issued
The National Center for Meteorology in Saudi Arabia issued weather conditions for Wednesday, warning citizens and residents of strong surface winds and dust storms affecting wide areas, including parts of the Makkah and Eastern Provinces. These warnings are part of the ongoing monitoring of the weather fluctuations the Kingdom is experiencing during this period.
Weather details in Mecca
The center explained that the weather conditions in the Makkah region will begin at 9:00 AM and continue until 6:00 PM. These conditions include strong winds with speeds reaching between 40 and 49 kilometers per hour, leading to reduced horizontal visibility. The areas covered by this warning include:
- Active winds: Taif, Maysan, and Al-Kamil.
- Dust storms: Al-Khurmah, Al-Muwayh, Turbah, and Ranyah, where visibility is expected to drop to between 2 and 5 kilometers.
Eastern Province weather and coastal effects
Regarding the Eastern Province, the report indicated that the conditions would occur simultaneously (from 9 AM to 6 PM), with coastal cities such as Jubail, Khobar, Dammam, Dhahran, Qatif, and Ras Tanura experiencing strong winds leading to high waves and reduced visibility. Meanwhile, inland areas such as Al-Ahsa, Al-Udayd, and Abqaiq would experience blowing dust that directly impacted horizontal visibility.
Climate context and the importance of warnings
These weather fluctuations are part of the Arabian Peninsula's climatic characteristics, where surface winds are typically active due to differences in atmospheric pressure, stirring up dust and sand, especially in open and desert areas. These warnings are of utmost importance to those traveling on highways connecting the provinces, as the lack of visibility or reduced visibility poses a significant risk and requires extreme caution.
Experts always advise following traffic safety guidelines in such conditions and avoiding high speeds. Those with respiratory illnesses and asthma are also advised to avoid direct exposure to dust to protect their health. The National Center of Meteorology emphasizes the importance of following real-time reports on its official platforms to stay updated on the latest weather developments.
