Warning as sandstorms hit Riyadh, other parts of Saudi Arabia

RIYADH: Saudi authorities have issued a weather warning as massive sandstorms continued to sweep through the Kingdom.

Winds of up to 31 km per hour hit the Saudi capital on Monday, causing widespread traffic disruption due to low visibility.

Sandstorms also caused problems in the Al-Jouf, Northern Borders, and Qassim regions as well as in Eastern Province and Najran.

The General Authority for Meteorology and Environmental Protection forecasted conditions to continue on Tuesday in the Eastern Province, Najran and southern parts of Riyadh.

Eastern parts of the southern highlands and the regions of Makkah and Madinah have also been warned to expect strong winds whipping up sand particles. Thunderstorms were predicted on the heights of Jazan, Asir, Baha and Taif.

Riyadh traffic officials advised motorists to drive slowly and use their vehicle headlights, and the General Directorate of Civil Defense urged residents in the capital to stay indoors wherever possible. Health experts warned that exposure to sandstorms might cause breathing difficulties especially for people with respiratory problems.

The maximum temperature recorded during the sandstorm in Riyadh was 28 degrees Celsius with a low of 14 degrees Celsius. Humidity was pegged at 14 percent in the capital.