Today's weather forecast: Thunderstorms expected in the Eastern Province and Riyadh, with weather warnings issued
The National Center for Meteorology in Saudi Arabia, in its daily weather report for Tuesday, revealed that the unstable weather conditions affecting large parts of the Kingdom will continue. The center forecasts light to moderate thunderstorms, accompanied by hail and strong winds that may stir up dust and sand, urging citizens and residents to exercise caution.
Weather details and affected areas
The report indicated that the chance of thunderstorms accompanied by active winds and hail remains high in parts of the Eastern Province, Riyadh, Najran, Jazan, Asir, and Al-Baha regions. The center also noted the possibility of fog forming over the highlands of these areas, which could reduce horizontal visibility during the early morning and late night hours.
Meanwhile, partly cloudy skies with light rain are expected over parts of the Northern Borders, Al-Jawf, Hail, Al-Qassim, and Madinah regions. Dust-raising surface winds will be active in parts of these regions, extending to parts of Tabuk and Makkah, potentially reducing horizontal visibility on highways and in open areas.
The state of the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf
Regarding the sea conditions, the report indicated that the surface wind movement on the Red Sea is northwesterly to northerly at a speed ranging between 20-42 km/h, reaching a speed of 60 km/h towards the Gulf of Aqaba, with a wave height ranging between one and two meters and reaching 4 meters in the northern part, making the sea state moderate to rough.
As for the Arabian Gulf, its coasts are experiencing northwesterly to northerly winds with speeds reaching 50 km/h, with the formation of rain-bearing thunderclouds over the central and southern parts, and a wave height of up to two and a half meters, which necessitates caution for seafarers and fishermen.
Special alerts for the Eastern Province
The early warning system issued a special alert for the Eastern Province, encompassing the governorates of Jubail, Khobar, Dammam, Dhahran, Qatif, and Ras Tanura. The alert, which began at 6:00 AM and is expected to last until 6:00 PM, includes accompanying effects such as high winds, near-zero visibility, hail, high waves, and flash floods and water accumulation resulting from thunderstorms.
The importance of following weather forecasts and official warnings
These reports are of paramount importance given the vast geographical diversity of Saudi Arabia, where weather phenomena vary from region to region. These alerts play a vital role in safeguarding lives and property, as relevant authorities such as the Civil Defense and the Ministry of Education rely on them to make appropriate decisions, whether regarding suspending classes or temporarily closing highways to ensure the safety of road users.
Experts always advise during these weather fluctuations to stay away from flood channels and valleys, avoid low-lying areas where water may collect, secure objects that could be blown away in case of strong winds, and adhere to traffic instructions when driving during rainfall or heavy dust.
