Acting Director of the Meteorological Department Darrar Al-Ali told the Kuwait News Agency that a humid low-pressure system would begin affecting the country around midnight on November 4, bringing an increase in low and medium-level clouds interspersed with cumulonimbus formations. These clouds are expected to produce scattered rain that could occasionally be accompanied by thunderstorms, according to Al-Ali. The official cautioned that the unstable weather would coincide with dust-raising winds, potentially dropping horizontal visibility to less than 1,000 meters in parts of the country.
Winds will initially blow from the southeast before turning variable in direction and generally ranging from light to moderate, though they may strengthen at times and stir up additional dust, the Meteorological Department assessment found. Sea waves could rise above six feet during the period of unsettled weather, while rainfall intensity is projected to range from light to moderate. Conditions are expected to improve gradually from Thursday afternoon, Al-Ali stated.
The department has advised individuals with asthma and allergies to take extra precautions during this period of high humidity and potential thunderstorms by wearing masks when outdoors. Motorists should exercise caution on the roads due to the risk of sudden visibility reductions from dust, according to the warning. Al-Ali urged the public to stay updated through official channels as the weather evolves.
World Bank data shows the country’s long-term average annual precipitation at about 119 mm, the bulk of which falls between November and April in the primary rainy season identified by the Meteorological Department. Similar alerts have been issued in recent years for weather patterns that combine rain with dust and reduced visibility, including events in late 2024 that prompted heightened public vigilance across the emirate. The current forecast arrives at the outset of this wetter period when such mixed weather systems become more common.
The department operates a two-stage alert system consisting of weather watches issued up to 24 hours in advance when conditions are favorable for severe weather and warnings released up to six hours before events that pose threats to life or property, according to its official guidelines. This framework helps coordinate responses to phenomena ranging from thunderstorms and dust to high waves. Al-Ali’s briefing on November 4 aligns with this protocol in highlighting both the expected rainfall and accompanying hazards.
