Sandstorms have engulfed the لأعمب in recent weeks in a phenomenon experts say could become more frequent because of climate change, putting human health at risk.
Flight operations in Kuwait were affected. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation announced a temporary suspension of flights at its international airport. The massive plume of dust hovering over the Gulf country reduced visibility to almost zero.
Flights and air traffic have resumed at Kuwait International Airport, the country’s Civil Aviation Authority said on Monday.
However, last week’s dust storm did not impact air traffic in Dubai. The storm is unlikely to affect flight operations in the UAE this week either.
A dust storm is also likely to hit some parts of the UAE on Tuesday. The country’s National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) tweeted an animated video that showed how the storm is moving towards Saudi and is expected to hit the western part of the UAE today.
Another storm over the Sea of Oman may hit the eastern coast of the UAE, but its effect would be minimal as most of the dust would settle in the sea, the NCM said.
Last week, 40kmph winds had kicked up dust across the UAE, bringing down visibility to less than 500 meters in some areas. An NCM official had predicted the likelihood of the storm persisting this week.
The NCM’s five-day weather bulletin forecasts dusty weather conditions till Friday, May 27.
Dust storms have also smothered Saudi. The National Centre of Meteorology issued a warning that a number of Saudi cities will be affected by strong winds that may lead to dust storms.
The agency said the areas of Riyadh and the Eastern Province could be hit, along with Tabuk, Makkah, and Madinah.
