A sandstorm, accompanied by strong northwesterly winds, battered the kingdom yesterday, causing road accidents due to limited visibility and leading to traffic congestion.
According to satellite imagery from the Transportation and Telecommunications Ministry’s Meteorological Directorate, the storm blew towards the kingdom from the northeast, from the direction of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
It hit the kingdom at around 1am yesterday, and continued until the evening, gradually decreasing in density until it finally began to subside by around 6pm.
The speed of the northwesterly winds on an average ranged from 17 to 22 knots, even reaching 25 to 30 knots at times.
The Interior Ministry released advisories throughout the day, with the General Directorate of Traffic urging road users to be cautious and drive carefully due to the visibility being less than 1km.
The dust haze caused a traffic accident on Janabiya Highway heading towards Budaiya. Vehicles coming from Hamala had to be diverted temporarily to Shaikh Isa Bin Salman Highway while relevant procedures were being taken.
Caution
Additionally, the Coastguard urged seafarers to take extra caution while at sea.
Strong winds, especially those accompanied by dust, can be dangerous for small boats as they generate larger waves and make it more difficult to control the vessel, increasing the risk of capsizing or drifting.
For the most part, the kingdom’s waters were clear of any sailors or seafarers, with most of them choosing to stay at port due to the dangerous conditions.
Meanwhile, there were reports of minor damage in some areas around the kingdom, such as in Jid Al Haj, where a decorative lighthouse was blown over by the strong winds.
While the dust will settle down, the Meteorological Directorate expects the strong winds to continue today, tomorrow and on Friday.
On average, the temperature is expected to range between 25C and 31C over these three days.
Meanwhile, the weather is expected to finally settle on the weekend, with cloudy weather expected on both Saturday and Sunday. The temperature is expected to range between 22C and 35C on both days.
“Every year, we occasionally have these dust storms for several days, especially as weather is changing,” American Mission Hospital general practitioner Dr Babu Ramachandran told the GDN.
Dr Ramachandran
“From a general practitioner’s point of view, this can trigger allergic rhinitis, asthma and nasal bronchial allergies.
“People who have asthma are, of course, more at risk, but it can affect everyone.
“The dust in respiratory tracts can lead to cold and cough, as well as wheezing amongst asthmatic individuals and breathing difficulties for the general population.
“While we do advise asthmatic individuals to not go outdoors unless necessary, this is not always practical.
“So when going outside, we recommend wearing masks and protective clothing like hood covering the head and ears, as well as drinking plenty of warm fluids.
“In case the symptoms get worse, seek medical help, especially if you have asthma, since you might need more inhalers or nebulisers.
“One group that is particularly affected is the worker population, who may not be able to stay indoors during such conditions.
“So supervisors at these sites need to ensure that those who have to work outdoors are properly protected with masks and head gear.”
Meanwhile, senior consultant ENT surgeon Dr Ameen Al Saati said that many people were caught by surprise – not by the sandstorm itself but the amount of dust.
Dr Al Saati
“I think the amount of dust due to this sudden sandstorm indeed surprised everyone,” the veteran specialist, who runs his own clinic, told the GDN.
“People who have allergies or are asthmatic should be careful and remain indoors, or wear a mask while stepping out.
“The nose is the entry point of dust in the respiratory passage, and it’s important we rinse it frequently especially during the dusty weather.”
Dr Al Saati added that people who experience fever post the current weather conditions should visit a doctor rather than pop pills.
“Another cause of concern in the Middle East is the increased use of air conditioning especially in vehicles and homes, which can become defective in stormy conditions leading to drop in air quality,” said AMH pulmonologist Dr Chellaraja Chellasamy.
“Periodically keeping car and home air conditioner filters clean can also help. If a person with a known respiratory illness like bronchial asthma, chronic bronchitis or emphysema notices breathing difficulty, wheezing or drop in oxygen levels in blood, they should report to a nearby health facility immediately.”
nader@gdnmedia.bh
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