Extreme heat and dust storms forecast for several Saudi regions Thursday

The National Center for Meteorology has forecast continued hot to extremely hot weather on Thursday across the Eastern Province and parts of Makkah, Madinah, and Riyadh. Strong winds raising dust and sand are also expected in these areas, as well as in parts of Qassim, the Northern Borders, and Tabuk, potentially reducing visibility to near zero along the coastal areas of Makkah and Madinah. There remains a chance of thunderstorms accompanied by strong winds in parts of Jazan and Asir, with possible rain-bearing thunderclouds and gusty winds also expected in southern areas of the Eastern Province and parts of Najran.

The report noted that surface winds over the Red Sea will be northwesterly to northerly at 25-55 km/h in the northern and central sections.

In the southern part, winds will shift from westerly to northwesterly at 12-40 km/h, increasing to over 50 km/h during thunderstorms. Wave heights are expected to reach 1.5 to 2.5 meters in the northern and central sections, and from 0.5 to 1.5 meters—rising above 2 meters during thunderstorms—in the south. Sea conditions will range from moderate to rough in the north and center, and from moderate to rough with thunderstorms in the south.