A massive sandstorm hit Kuwait, Iraq, and northern Saudi Arabia with low to zero visibility. Video 1 & 2. The sandstorm formed in response to strong northwesterly winds behind an advancing cold front that brough thunderstorms to parts of Iraq. What will be the impact over other Gulf countries? Northwesterly winds will push the dust/sand southeastward accross the Arabian Gulf countries of Bahrain and Qatar. However, the impact might not be as severe as it was over Kuwait as sand and dust particles get dispersed and northwesterly winds blowing over the Arabian Gulf water will have less fresh sand to [ Read More ]
Archive for March, 2011
March marks the start of meteorological spring (while astronomical spring starts around March 20-22). There will be several rounds of showers and thunderstorms over parts of the Arabian Peninsula between March 4th and 19th. March 15 – 18: A third round is expected over Southwestern Saudi Arabia, especially over red sea coast and mountainous areas including Jeddah and Mecca. Scattered thunderstorms with heavy rainfall are expected to erupt during the afternoon hours of Tuesday Mar 15th and continue to Thursday. Thunderstorms could also hit western Yemen and much of southern Red Sea. A 500mb shortwave trough left behind the main [ Read More ]
