DESERT STORM WEATHER 17 JANUARY-2 MARCH 1991

File: aabva_100.txt
Page: 100
Total Pages: 106
DESERT STORM                                      28 February 1991

General Weather. Low pressure was centered over the
southeastern part of the Saudi Arabian peninsula while high
pressure intensified in the rest of the region. Remnants of a weak
frontal system remained in northern Saudi Arabia and southern
Iraq.

Area of Interest. Skies were broken to overcast over north-central
northeastern, east and east-central Saudi Arabia. Ceiling heights
were 3,000-4,000 feet. By evening skies were mostly clear to
scattered. Light rain and dazzle fell over north-central and eastern
Saudi Arabia. Thunderstorms with tops to 35,000 feet were
observed over east-central Saudi Arabia and the northern part of
the Persian Gulf during early morning--see Figure 3-47, next page.
Winds were northwesterly at 10-20 knots with gusts to 25 knots.
Fog lowered morning visibilities to 4,800 meters in east-central
Saudi Arabia. Fog reduced early afternoon visibilities to 3,200
meters in northeastern Saudi Arabia, which improved to 6-8 km in
smoke and haze by late afternoon. A sandstorm in east-central
Saudi Arabia, with wind speeds of 30-40 knots, is visible in figure
3-48 on Page 3-102. The storm reduced late afternoon and early
evening visibilities to 1,600-4,000 meters, with isolated reports of
100 meters.

Area of Intense Interest. Skies were broken to overcast over
southern and southeastern Iraq and Kuwait--ceilings were 3,000 to
4,000 feet, but 800 feet in showers. By early evening, skies were
clear to scattered. Isolated afternoon thunderstorms (tops to
35,000 feet) and rainshowers were present over southeastern Iraq
and Kuwait.
       
Winds were northwesterly to northerly at 10-20 knots with gusts to
35 knots near thunderstorms.
       
In Kuwait, visibilities were less than 3,200 meters in smoke and
2,000 meters in thunderstorms.
       
High temperatures were 13-18( C; lows, 5-10( C.



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