Massive Dust Storm Hits Saudi Arabia, Kuwait And Jordan, Triggering Travel Chaos And Flash Floods
https://twitter.com/saif_SH45/status/1919048327972200870
Authorities in all three countries have issued red alerts and warned of further weather instability in the coming days.
Saudi Arabia
In central Saudi Arabia, residents of Al Qassim province witnessed a rare and dramatic phenomenon described as a 'wall of dust' that swept through the region on Sunday, reducing visibility to near zero and prompting widespread safety warnings.
Videos shared on social media showed the sky turning orange as the storm surged forward like a towering wave, blocking out sunlight.
Meteorologist Abdullah Al Misnad, a former professor at Qassim University, attributed the event to powerful downdrafts from cumulonimbus clouds — scientifically classified as gravity-driven haboobs — which generate intense, fast-moving dust walls.
These walls, he noted, can reach heights of up to 2,000 meters and wind speeds of 100 km/h, posing major hazards to both air and land transportation.
The National Center for Meteorology issued red alerts across five regions, including Riyadh and the Eastern Province, warning of continued dust storms, heavy rainfall, hail, and potential flooding.
Authorities urged residents to remain indoors, avoid open areas, and limit travel, especially on highways and exposed roads.
Kuwait
Kuwait was battered by violent winds and thick dust clouds, leading aviation and maritime authorities to temporarily suspend operations.
https://twitter.com/Ahdath_kw/status/1919132288232681501
Wind gusts topping 100 km/h reduced visibility in some areas to zero. Two inbound flights from Egypt were diverted to Dammam, Saudi Arabia, while the Kuwait Ports Authority halted activity at Shuwaikh and Shuaiba ports to safeguard workers and infrastructure. Operations resumed Monday morning as weather conditions improved.
Kuwait's acting Director of the Meteorological Department, Dharar Al Ali, warned that the country is currently in the 'Sarayat' period—a volatile seasonal transition known for rapid atmospheric shifts, thunderstorms, and heavy dust.
Satellite data indicated intense regional activity, with scattered rain forecast through midweek.
The Interior Ministry issued public safety alerts, urging drivers to reduce speed, maintain safe following distances, and pull over if visibility drops to zero.
Jordan
In Jordan, the storm system unleashed erratic and hazardous weather across several regions, with rain, thunderstorms, and dust severely reducing visibility and causing flash floods in low-lying areas.
https://twitter.com/FirilFor/status/1919254357595304191
In Petra, one of Jordan's most visited tourist attractions, authorities evacuated hundreds of visitors on Sunday after flash floods inundated parts of the archaeological site.
More than 1,700 tourists were present when Civil Defense teams implemented emergency protocols. Ticket sales were suspended at midday, and key landmarks — including Al Khazneh, the Siq, and the Monastery—were cleared as water levels rose rapidly.
Tragically, the flooding claimed the lives of a Belgian woman and her son, who were part of an adventure tour in Wadi Al Nakhil near Ma'an. Two of her children survived.
Jordan's Public Security Directorate said search and rescue teams are continuing efforts to locate missing persons, with additional incidents reported in Tafileh and Al Hasa involving stranded tourists and livestock herders.
'We evacuated most of the tourists without injuries,' said Yazan Mahadin, Commissioner of Petra Archaeological Park. 'Safety is our top priority.'
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