DESERT STORM WEATHER 17 JANUARY-2 MARCH 1991

File: aabva_05.txt
Page: 05
Total Pages: 106
               DESERT STORM				 18 January 1991
              
               General  Weather.  High pressure dominated central Saudi Arabia,
               but a low-pressure system and an accompanying front raced across
               northwestern Saudi Arabia, most of Iraq, and Kuwait. The system
               became quasi-stationary along a line running from the northern Red
               sea to Kuwait and then to southeastern Iraq. This line also marked
               the subtropical Jet stream axis. Another front moved across
               northern Iraq during the evening.
              
              Area of Interest. Northern Iraq's 15,000-foot ceiling lowered to
              8,000 feet through the morning and became scattered by 1200Z.
              A line of clouds associated with a weak front moved across
              northern Iraq In the evening, bringing 5,000-foot ceiling. In
              western Iraq and northwestern Saudi Arabia 10,000 foot ceilings
              lowered rapidly to 4,000 feet; isolated areas of rain and ground fog
              lowered visibilities to 4,800 meters. Skies cleared over western
              Iraq by 1200Z and ceiling northwestern Saudi Arabia rose to
              20,000 feet.  Clouds with 4,000 foot bases remained throughout the
              day from the Red Sea at Jeddah  into north-central and north-
              eastern Saudi Arabia, where rain fell in the afternoon. Visibilities
              were 3,200 meters in rain and haze, with fog after sunset.  In the
              rest of the area, skies were clear or high scattered. Occasional
              periods of blowing dust reduced visibilities to 4,800 meters in
              central Saudi Arabia.
              
              Area of Intense Interest.   The entire area was covered by clouds
              with bases of 10,000-15,000 feet-see Figure 3-3. These quickly
              lowered  3,000 feet and, in some places, to as low as 1,500 feet.
              The western part of the area began peeing In the afternoon, but
              200-foot ceiling formed throughout the area by the end of the day.
              Clouds were layered to 30,000 feet from central Iraq to
              southeastern Kuwait.
         
              Light rain fell throughout the area, beginning as early as 0500Z and
              lasting past 1800Z in eastern Iraq.
    
             Winds were east to southeastern at 5-15 knots.
             
             Visibilities were 5 km in morning ground fog and 3,200 meters In
              rain. After the rain passed, visibilities were as low as 4,800 meters
              in haze and fog, falling 1,600 meters at the end of the day.
              
              High temperatures were 16-22� C; lows, 08-13� C.
         
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