The National Center for Meteorology issued its detailed daily report on the expected weather conditions for today, Sunday , in which the report warned of weather fluctuations including surface wind activity and a decrease in horizontal visibility due to dust and fog over large parts of the Kingdom, including 9 administrative regions.
Weather phenomena: Dust in the west and fog in the central and eastern regions
The center explained in its statement that the weather conditions are characterized by the continued influence of active winds stirring up dust and sand, sometimes leading to near-zero horizontal visibility. This condition is particularly concentrated in the coastal areas of Makkah, Madinah, and Tabuk . These areas are among the most affected by monsoon winds due to their open geographical nature along the Red Sea coast.
In contrast, other regions are experiencing a different weather phenomenon: dense fog during the early morning hours, requiring caution from drivers on highways. The areas most likely to experience fog include parts of the Northern Borders, Al-Jawf, Hail, Al-Qassim, Riyadh, and Eastern Province regions .
State of the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf
Regarding the marine conditions, the report provided a detailed account of wave and wind movements, which is of interest to fishermen and sea-goers:
Red Sea
- Surface winds: They will be northeasterly to northerly at a speed of 15-35 km/h on the northern and central parts, and will turn southeasterly to easterly at a speed of 20-40 km/h on the southern part, and may reach a speed of 50 km/h towards the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
- Wave height: It ranges from half a meter to one and a half meters in the north and center, and from one meter to two meters in the south, and may exceed two meters towards Bab al-Mandab.
- Sea state: Light to moderate waves, becoming rough towards the southern strait.
Arabian Gulf
- Surface winds: Northeasterly to southeasterly at a speed of 16-36 km/h, increasing to more than 50 km/h with the formation of rain-bearing thunderclouds over the southern part.
- Wave height: from half a meter to one and a half meters, reaching more than two meters with thunderstorms in the south.
- Sea state: Light to moderate waves, turning rough with the formation of thunderclouds.
The importance of warnings and their overall impact
These daily reports are of paramount importance to public safety, as Saudi Arabia is a vast country with diverse terrain and climates. These weather fluctuations directly impact land and sea traffic, particularly on highways connecting regions and major cities.
Authorities, such as Civil Defense and Road Security, usually call on citizens and residents to adhere to preventive instructions while driving in dust or fog, such as maintaining a safe distance, using appropriate lighting, and avoiding low places and water accumulations in the event of thunderstorms, in order to protect lives and property.
