Saudi Arabia weather today: Dust storms in Riyadh and the Eastern Province, weather alerts issued
The National Center for Meteorology in Saudi Arabia issued weather conditions for today, Monday, indicating significant weather fluctuations affecting several vital regions of the Kingdom. These warnings are part of the ongoing monitoring of weather conditions to ensure the safety of citizens and residents, especially given the surface wind activity causing dust storms.
Weather details for the Riyadh region
The center explained in its report that the Riyadh region will experience surface wind activity leading to dust and sandstorms, causing horizontal visibility to drop to levels ranging between 3 and 5 kilometers. This weather condition will affect several governorates and districts, including:
- Thadiq
- times
- Dawadmi
- chaste
- Al-Zulfi
- Al-Ghat
- The complex
- blond
According to the warning issued, this weather phenomenon will begin to affect the area from 12 noon until 7 pm, which calls for caution and vigilance while driving on highways and open roads in those areas.
Weather in the Eastern Province: Winds and dust
In a related development, the National Center of Meteorology warned of a similar weather condition affecting parts of the Eastern Province . The region is experiencing blowing dust accompanied by strong winds, which are also reducing horizontal visibility. Affected areas include:
- Al-Ahsa
- Many
- Abqaiq
- Hafr Al-Batin
This weather condition began early this morning at 7 am and is expected to continue until 4 pm.
Climate context and weather effects
These weather fluctuations are part of the climatic characteristics of the Kingdom's desert regions during the transitional periods between seasons, when surface winds become active due to variations in atmospheric pressure. These winds play a significant role in stirring up dust and sand, directly impacting air quality and visibility.
The importance of these warnings lies in their direct impact on road traffic and travel, as the roads connecting Riyadh to the Eastern Province, as well as those leading to the northern regions, are vital arteries for transportation and trade. Therefore, drivers using these roads are advised to adhere to speed limits and maintain safe following distances.
Weather conditions in the rest of the Kingdom
The forecast was not limited to the central and eastern regions, but extended to other areas, as the center predicted high-speed winds that could reach the level of dust storms, leading to a near-total lack of horizontal visibility in parts of the regions:
- Tabuk
- Al-Jawf
- Northern borders
Light rain is possible in parts of these areas. Meanwhile, there remains a chance of dense fog during the early morning and late night hours in the highlands of Madinah, Makkah, Al-Baha, Asir, and Jazan, requiring extra caution from drivers in mountainous regions.
Public safety recommendations
Given these dusty conditions, health experts advise respiratory, asthma, and allergy sufferers to avoid direct exposure to dust and to stay indoors as much as possible, or to use medical masks when going out when necessary, in order to protect their health.
