Holiday weather: Dust and wind warning issued for Riyadh and the Eastern Province
The National Center for Meteorology in Saudi Arabia issued the mid-year school break , necessitating caution while traveling and on highways.
Weather details and affected areas
The center explained in its weather report that large parts of the Riyadh and Eastern regions will experience active surface winds stirring up dust and sand, leading to near-zero or reduced horizontal visibility to (3-5) kilometers. The center specified the areas covered by the warning as follows:
- Riyadh Region: Riyadh (the capital), Dawadmi, Al-Rayn, Al-Quway'iyah, Afif, Ad-Diriyah, Az-Zulfi, Al-Ghat, Al-Majma'ah, Shaqra, Thadiq, Huraymila, Rumah, and Dhurma.
- Eastern Province: Al-Khafji, Al-Nairiyah, Qaryat Al-Ulya, and Hafr Al-Batin.
The report indicated that this weather condition will continue to affect the region until Tuesday evening, requiring drivers to exercise extreme caution, especially on the highways connecting these governorates.
Sensitive timing: School holiday weather
This warning is particularly important given its timing; students and their families are currently on their mid-year break , which began on Friday, the 20th of Rajab, and is scheduled to end on the 28th of the same month. This period is a peak season for camping trips and intercity travel, making it essential to monitor weather forecasts to ensure everyone's safety.
The Kingdom usually experiences rapid weather fluctuations during such transitional times of the year, with active surface winds that stir up dust in open and desert areas. This is a common climatic pattern that requires special preparation by road users and respiratory patients.
General weather conditions in the rest of the regions
The weather report was not limited to Riyadh and the Eastern Province, but extended to include expectations of the continued impact of active winds stirring up dust and sand on the eastern parts of the Asir, Al-Baha and Makkah regions, in addition to parts of Madinah, Al-Qassim, Hail, Al-Jawf and the Northern Borders.
In contrast, the forecasts brought good tidings of light rain on parts of the western highlands of the Kingdom, with a chance of fog forming on parts of those highlands, as well as on the Al-Baha, Asir and Jazan regions, which would create a distinctive winter atmosphere that might attract picnickers, but it also requires caution due to reduced visibility caused by fog.
Public safety recommendations
In these dusty conditions, experts advise keeping windows tightly closed in homes and vehicles, and avoiding direct exposure to dust, especially for those with asthma and chest allergies. Highway travelers are also advised to reduce their speed and use hazard lights when visibility is low to ensure their safe arrival.
