Dust storms to batter Kuwait until Saturday
Speaking to KUNA, Acting Director of the Meteorology Department Dharar Al-Ali said the country is currently under the influence of an extended Indian monsoon depression, bringing a hot and dry air mass along with moderate to strong northwesterly winds. These winds are expected to range between 20 and 60 kilometers per hour.
"The prevailing conditions will stir up dust, particularly in open areas, reducing horizontal visibility to less than 1,000 meters at times," Al-Ali noted.
He added that the intense winds and dust storms will cause a slight drop in maximum temperatures by about four to six degrees Celsius. Sea conditions are also expected to deteriorate, with waves rising to over six feet.
Al-Ali said the general weather during this period will be hot and dusty during the daytime and hot to warm at night. Dust is expected to gradually settle during the evening hours.
Maximum daytime temperatures are forecast to range between 43°C and 46°C, while nighttime lows are expected between 30°C and 33°C.
The Meteorology Department urged motorists to exercise caution on highways due to poor visibility and advised beachgoers to avoid the sea because of high waves. Individuals with asthma or allergies were also advised to wear protective masks when venturing outdoors.
Al-Ali encouraged the public to stay informed by following updates via the department's official website, mobile application, and social media accounts, as well as through the government app (Sahl), to receive the latest weather developments.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Kuwait Times
17 hours ago
- Kuwait Times
‘Challenging day' for firefighters in France
FONTJONCOUSE, France: Firefighters have contained a massive wildfire in southern France but local officials warned on Sunday that scorching heat and dry conditions could reignite the blaze, as parts of the Mediterranean region face a heatwave. The fire has ravaged a vast area of France's southern Aude department at the peak of the summer tourist season, killing one person and injuring several others. Authorities said that hot, dry winds on Sunday—similar to those on the day the blaze began—and a heatwave would make the work of firefighters more difficult. 'It's a challenging day, given that we are likely to be on red alert for heatwave from 4pm, which will not make things any easier,' said Christian Pouget, prefect of the Aude department. The fire is no longer spreading but is still burning within a 16,000-hectare area, said Christophe Magny on Saturday, chief of the region's firefighter unit, adding it would not be under control until Sunday evening. But the blaze will 'not be extinguished for several weeks,' he said. Some 1,300 firefighters were mobilized to prevent the blaze from reigniting amid fears that the tramontane wind, which officials said picked up overnight Saturday to Sunday, could fan lingering hot spots. Temperatures this weekend are expected to hit 40 degrees Celsius in some areas, and Monday is forecast to be the 'hottest day nationwide,' according to national weather service Meteo France. In Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse, a 65-year-old woman was found dead on Wednesday in her home, which was devastated by flames. Authorities said one resident suffered serious burns and four others were lightly injured, while 19 firefighters were hurt, including one with a head injury. Experts say European countries are becoming ever more vulnerable to such disasters due to intensifying summer heatwaves linked to global warming. The blaze—the largest in at least 50 years—tore through 16,000 hectares of vegetation, disaster officials said. For livestock farmers in Fontjoncouse, the fire has ravaged grazing land and wiped out much of their flocks, fuelling outrage among those who said they did not have time to evacuate their herds. Emmanuelle Bernier said she was 'extremely angry' when she returned to a devastating scene, finding the pen that had housed her herd of goats in ruins, with 17 animals—some close to giving birth—lost in the fire. 'I will definitely change jobs. This will change my whole life,' she said. Bernier's property now holds only a few geese and two sick goats after she had to temporarily entrust her surviving sheep to a local winegrower, as the damage to the farm was so extensive that they could no longer stay. 'Everything here was built around the sheep, and seeing the flock leave was incredibly difficult for me,' she said. But as she surveyed the scorched landscape, Bernier voiced some hope for the future. 'There's still a little life left,' she said. – AFP
Arab Times
2 days ago
- Arab Times
Fog, heat, thunder clash over Kuwait
KUWAIT CITY, Aug 9: Kuwait's Meteorological Dept. has forecast that the country will see hot, partly cloudy and humid weather, coupled with sporadic rainfalls and thunderstorms, from Saturday evening until Monday. Low-altitude cumulus clouds, thunderstorms, and active southeastern wind are expected, particularly in the southern parts of the country this evening, the Dept. Dhrar Al-Ali told KUNA. High levels of humidity and fog will bring visibility down to less than one kilometer, he said. Weather charts show that the country is affected by the Indian seasonal depression and a hot mass of air, which led to a high level of humidity and fog, particularly in the coastal areas, he noted. Al-Ali advised motorists to remain cautious for poor visibility on highways and keep following the weather forecasts on social media for updates.(KUNA)
Arab Times
2 days ago
- Arab Times
Hot, humid weather with thundery showers expected in Kuwait
KUWAIT CITY, Aug 9: Kuwait is set to experience hot and humid weather accompanied by scattered rainfall — potentially thundery at times—starting this evening and continuing through next Monday, according to the Meteorology Department. Speaking to KUNA, Acting Director of the Meteorology Department, Dharar Al-Ali, said the country will be affected by an extension of the Indian monsoon depression, bringing with it a hot and humid air mass, particularly over coastal areas. The conditions are expected to cause the accumulation of low- and medium-level clouds, with cumulus clouds likely to lead to scattered, sometimes thundery rains. Al-Ali added that active winds accompanying the rain could result in dust storms in some areas, while fog formation is also anticipated, leading to reduced horizontal visibility—especially during late night and early morning hours. He pointed out that weather radar operated by the Public Authority for Civil Aviation (PACA) indicates thundercloud formation in southwestern regions of the country as early as today. Motorists, especially those traveling on highways, were urged to exercise caution due to sudden drops in visibility. Al-Ali also advised individuals with asthma or allergies to wear protective masks when outdoors, especially amid increased dust and humidity. The Meteorology Department encouraged the public to stay updated by following weather bulletins through its official website, mobile application, and social media accounts.
