The National Center for Meteorology issued an important and urgent alert for residents and road users in the Al-Jawf region, specifically in Al-Qurayyat Governorate, warning of a weather condition requiring extreme caution. The center explained that the region will experience near-zero horizontal visibility due to dense fog, which may directly affect traffic in open areas and on highways.
Weather details in Al Qurayyat
According to the center's report, Al-Qurayyat Governorate is expected to be affected by fog that will reduce horizontal visibility to one kilometer or less, and may even cause complete obscurity at times. The report indicated that this weather condition will begin at 11:00 PM tonight and continue until 9:00 AM tomorrow, Sunday, necessitating that drivers take the necessary precautions.
Climate conditions and context in the northern regions
These warnings come amidst the winter weather conditions currently affecting the northern regions of Saudi Arabia. The Al-Jawf region, and specifically the Al-Qurayyat governorate, is known for its extremely cold nights and early mornings at this time of year. The temperature differences and high humidity contribute to the formation of dense radiation fog, a common weather phenomenon that requires extreme caution due to its direct impact on travel safety.
These warnings are of particular importance given Al Qurayyat’s strategic location as a land border gateway, where there is a lot of traffic on the international and highways that connect the Kingdom to its neighbors, making the warning about lack of visibility vital for the safety of travelers, truck drivers, and heavy transport.
Weather forecast for the rest of the Kingdom
In a related context regarding the general weather conditions in Saudi Arabia, the National Center for Meteorology had revealed in a previous report details of the expected weather conditions for today, as it warned of rain and hail showers accompanied by fog in parts of 12 administrative regions of the Kingdom.
The statement indicated that moderate to heavy thunderstorms are expected to continue, accompanied by hail and strong winds that will stir up dust and reduce horizontal visibility. This weather pattern will affect parts of the Riyadh and Eastern Provinces, extending to parts of the Jazan, Asir, and Al-Baha regions, and reaching the southern parts of the Makkah region.
Safety guidelines during fog
The relevant authorities always urge drivers, when such warnings are issued, to use fog lights, avoid using high beams which may obstruct vision due to their reflection on water droplets, in addition to leaving a sufficient safety distance between vehicles, and reducing speed in accordance with the road conditions and visibility to ensure everyone’s safety.
