The National Center for Meteorology in Saudi Arabia issued weather warning of varying intensities of fog that will significantly reduce horizontal visibility across large parts of seven major regions in the Kingdom. The center explained in its report that this weather condition will persist from the early morning hours until 8:00 AM, urging motorists to exercise caution.
Weather details and its effects
The weather report indicated that the effects of this weather pattern include reduced horizontal visibility, ranging from 3 to 5 kilometers in some locations, while visibility may drop to near zero (1 to 3 kilometers) in others, particularly on highways and in open areas. This phenomenon is a result of high relative humidity and low minimum temperatures, which contribute to the condensation of water vapor and the formation of dense fog.
Areas and cities affected by fog
The alert covered a large number of governorates and cities across the Kingdom, and their geographical distribution was as follows:
- Eastern Province: Al-Khafji, Al-Nairiyah, Hafr Al-Batin, Qaryat Al-Ulya, Al-Ahsa, Jubail, Al-Khobar, Dammam, Dhahran, Qatif, Abqaiq, and Ras Tanura were all affected. The Eastern Province is one of the areas most prone to fog due to its proximity to the Arabian Gulf.
- Riyadh region: The fog included the governorates of Al-Zulfi, Al-Ghat, Al-Majma’ah, and Shaqra.
- Makkah Region: The situation was concentrated in coastal areas such as Al-Qunfudhah and Al-Lith.
- Al-Qassim region: Fog covered large areas including Abanat, Al-Asyah, Al-Badai, Al-Bukayriyah, Al-Thamiriyah, Al-Khabra, Ar-Rass, Ash-Shamasiyah, Al-Ammar, Al-Fawarah, Al-Mudhnib, An-Nabhaniah, Buraydah, Riyadh Al-Khabra, Dhariyah, Uqlat As-Suqur, Unayzah, and Uyun Al-Jawa.
- Hail region: It included Al-Hait, Al-Sulaimi, Al-Shamli, Al-Ghazala, Hail city, Muwaqq, Al-Shanan, Baqaa, and Samira.
- Jazan region: Abu Arish, Ahad Al Masarihah, Al Darb, Al Tuwal, Al Fatihah, Baysh, Samtah, Sabya, and Damad were affected.
- Asir region: The situation was concentrated in coastal areas such as Al-Barak and Al-Qahmah.
Safety guidelines and the importance of caution
In these conditions, warnings are of paramount importance to ensure everyone's safety. Traffic safety experts and relevant authorities advise drivers to reduce their speed according to road conditions and to use fog lights or low beams instead of high beams, which can impair visibility due to reflections on water droplets. Maintaining a safe following distance is also crucial to avoid sudden collisions that can occur when vehicles stop abruptly in poor visibility.
Fog is a common weather phenomenon at this time of year in the Kingdom, as the country experiences transitional weather patterns. The National Center for Meteorology plays a vital role in monitoring these changes and issuing early warnings (yellow, orange, and red) according to the severity of the situation, enabling relevant authorities and citizens to take necessary precautions. The Center urges everyone to follow its official channels for the latest updates on the changing weather conditions.
