Dust, Strong Winds to Hit Riyadh Region Friday

The National Center for Meteorology has issued a warning of a wave of dust and strong winds affecting the Riyadh region on Friday, with horizontal visibility expected to drop to near zero. The event is forecast to run from 09:00 to 19:00 local time.

The warning covers Riyadh city and surrounding governorates in the region, including southern and western areas such as Al-Aflaj, As-Sulayyil, Wadi Al-Dawasir, Al-Dawadmi, Ar-Rayn, Al-Quwayiyah and Afif, among others, depending on the daily forecast for each area.

In similar current alerts for the Riyadh region, wind speeds typically reach 40–59 km/h, with visibility reduced to about 1–3 km and, in some cases, near zero. Authorities classify these events using yellow, orange and red alert levels, with yellow and orange being the most common for raised dust and reduced visibility in the region.

Why it matters

Raised dust and strong surface winds can create real hazards for commuters and drivers, sharply reduce road visibility, and degrade air quality. Residents in the affected areas are advised to take extra caution when travelling and to follow the latest updates.

These are public weather alerts. There is no paid subscription, fee, or administrative step required to access them. Updates are published through the early-warning system and daily forecast bulletins, which list region- and governorate-specific entries showing start and end times, wind speed and expected visibility.

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