RIYADH: The General Directorate of Civil Defense in Riyadh called for caution Friday after an advanced alert from the General Authority of Meteorology and Environmental Protection warned that some governorates in Riyadh Province including Al-Kharj, Shaqra and Al-Majma’ah will experience strong winds and dust that will cause low visibility.
The media spokesman for Civil Defense in Riyadh Maj. Mohammed Al-Hammadi urged all asthma patients and those with breathing problems in general to follow the appropriate medical instructions and avoid travelling on roads that are affected by severe sand storms as much as possible.
Earlier, sandstorms hit several cities in Saudi Arabia on Thursday and disrupted road and air transport across the Kingdom.
The early warning center of the national Saudi Meteorology and Protection of the Environment agency issued a nationwide warning stating that unstable weather will affect many areas on Thursday and Friday.
The agency said the capital Riyadh will also get its share of the sandstorm and it is expected to continue until midday on Friday.
The sand and poor visibility resulted in several accidents in Saudi Arabia’s second city Jeddah.
Makkah also suffered as a result of the storm. Maritime traffic was suspended in and out of Jeddah’s port due to poor visibility.
King Abdul Aziz airport authorities announced that smooth operations continued at the airport despite the storm.
Earlier, the sandstorms led to temporary closure of 6 airports in northern Saudi Arabia due to strong wind mixed with dust.