Despite sizable drop in day temperature, cities in the Eastern Province are virtually suffocating due to extreme humid conditions. The General Authority for Meteorology and Environmental Protection has said there will hardly be any respite from humidity in the region in coming days. To make things worst the forecast is of increase in mercury with same humid conditions.
This morning in Dammam day temperature was just 37 degrees Celsius but according to the Weather Channel at one point the actual feel was 46 degrees. Similar conditions were prevailing in Al-Ahsa, Jubail and Qatif. The weather department predicted a maximum of 42 degrees in afternoon but no let down in humidity.
People in the region prefer to remain indoors. The market place, particularly Dammam’ Gold market which is usually over crowded wore deserted look last evening with handful of shoppers scattered around the market.
Even supermarkets reported sharp decline in number of shoppers during the past two days. “ People are not coming out of their homes unless it s absolutely necessary. Effectively our sale has dropped considerably,” said manager of a large supermarket chain spread all over the Kingdom. Elsewhere GAMEP has warned of scorching heat and dusty winds in the coming days. Rising temperature and dusty winds will continue all through the summer, it said.
Scorching sun coupled with dust are commonly known as Al-Safi under which the visibility will decrease remarkably.
The authority said sandstorms will adversely affect traffic on expressways of the Sahel cities including Makkah, Madinah, Asir and Jazan.
Hospitals advised parents to stay indoors and try to avoid their children from exposure. There is a general advisory for people to wear mask to protect themselves from dust.
GAMEP forecasts the weather to be dusty in Riyadh, Western, Southern, and Eastern regions.Its report states that the surface wind movement in the Red Sea is west-northerly to northerly at a speed of 20-48 km/h, while the surface wind movement in the Arabian Gulf is westerly to west-northerly at a speed of 15-35 km/h.
Previously life came to a standstill in the Eastern Province as temperatures soared in several cities of the province forcing residents close doors. Al-Ahsa recorded a maximum of 49 degree Celsius with a real feel of 51 degrees. Hafr Al-Batin was close second with 48 degrees. The cities of Dammam, Al-Khobar, Qatif and Sihat recording 46 degree Celsius. The Weather department had issued a list of 14 Saudi cities which were expected to reel under intense heat wave. The 14 cities included Al-Ahsa Hafr Al-Batin, Dammam, Buraidah, Riyadh, Makkah, Madinah Qunfudha, Arar, Yanbu, Bisha, Hail, Sakaka and Jeddah.
The Eastern Province after experiencing scorching heat with high temperature is now subjected to worst kind of humid conditions. The weatherman says that there might be slight variation but overall humid condition will persist for
SOURCE : ALBILAD
