The National Center for Meteorology in Saudi Arabia issued a detailed weather report, warning of varying intensities of fog directly affecting large parts of five major regions of the Kingdom during the early morning hours of Tuesday. These warnings are part of the center's ongoing monitoring to ensure the safety of citizens and residents and to urge caution while traveling.
The report explained that the weather phenomenon will persist until 7:00 AM in some areas and extend to 8:00 AM in others, requiring extra caution from drivers. The accompanying effects include reduced horizontal visibility, ranging from 3 to 5 kilometers in some locations, while visibility may reach near-zero (1 to 3 kilometers) in others, posing a significant challenge to morning traffic.
Areas and cities affected by the weather conditions
The alert included a detailed breakdown of the affected cities and governorates in the five regions, which are as follows:
- The Eastern Province includes Jubail, Khobar, Dammam, Dhahran, Qatif, Ras Tanura, and many others. These coastal areas are particularly prone to fog due to high humidity levels.
- Makkah Region: Jeddah, Al Qunfudhah, Rabigh, Adham, Maysan, Taif, Al Muwayh, Al Ardiyat, Ash Shu’aybah and Al Lith are affected.
- Madinah region: The alert includes the governorates of Badr, Al-Mahd, and Wadi Al-Fara.
- Al-Baha region: Al-Hujrah, Al-Makhwah, Far'ah Ghamid Al-Zanad, and Qalwah are affected.
- Asir region: It includes the highlands and major cities such as Abha, Ahad Rafidah, Al Harjah, Al Rabwa, Al Namas, Balqarn, Tanomah, Khamis Mushait, Sarat Abidah, and Dhahran Al Janoub.
Weather conditions and climate in the Kingdom
Fog is a common weather phenomenon in Saudi Arabia during seasonal transitions, particularly in winter and early spring. This is due to the temperature difference between day and night, coupled with high relative humidity, especially in coastal areas such as the Eastern Province and the Red Sea coast (Jeddah and Rabigh). In these areas, radiation fog or sea fog forms, significantly reducing visibility.
In mountainous and highland regions such as Asir, Al-Baha, and Taif, the topography plays a pivotal role in fog formation, as low clouds touch the mountain peaks, creating dense fog that can persist for longer periods compared to coastal areas. These phenomena reflect the Kingdom's significant climatic and geographical diversity.
The importance of warnings and safety guidelines
These warnings are of paramount importance for maintaining public safety, as dense fog directly impacts traffic flow on highways and main roads connecting the governorates. Relevant authorities, including traffic police and civil defense, urge drivers to adhere to defensive driving practices, use fog lights, maintain a safe following distance, and avoid speeding in conditions of poor visibility.
The National Center for Meteorology continues its vital role in monitoring weather changes and issuing early warnings in accordance with international standards, which contributes to raising the level of preparedness of service and security agencies to deal with any emergency that may result from these weather fluctuations.
