Dust Storm Forecast Slashes Visibility Across Western Saudi Arabia

The Saudi National Centre for Meteorology (NCM) issued a warning that strong dust‑stirring winds will affect western Saudi Arabia from July 29 through August 8, 2026. The storm is expected to reduce horizontal visibility to near‑zero in parts of the Mecca, Medina, Al Baha, Asir and Najran regions, as well as along the Red Sea coastal highway linking Jeddah and Jazan.

Authorities advise motorists to avoid non‑essential travel, follow official forecasts, and exercise extreme caution on affected roads. The dust is also likely to degrade air quality, posing health and safety risks to residents and travelers in the impacted areas.