Beginning on January 27, 1991, the two chemical defense platoons were assigned to the Kingdom of Saudi A Arabia brigades, crossing the border into Kuwait They participated actively in assuring the anti-chemical defenses of the allied units during their execution of the operational plan. On February 5, 1991, the unit was supplemented, bringing its total numbers to 198 people.

The Czechoslovak anti-chemical defense unit primarily performed the following tasks:

A part of the anti-chemical defense provisions was continuous chemical intelligence and surveillance, with the objective to identify the use of poisonous substances, provide data for alerting forces, and assist commanders in their decision-making.

During the period after the commencement of the war on January 17, 1991, borderline concentrations of poisonous substances were identified in the air by our chemical surveillance. In the Commanders Report, coveting the antichemical defense battalions' activities during the period from January 1, 1991 until February 28, 1991, it specifically stated.

This aforementioned fact was confirmed by members of the battalion, chemical defense specialists who evaluated and ordered measures for personal protection, (see Attachments - pages from the book of the Operations Unit of the General Command of the Czechoslovak Army in Prague, record #56), and all means of anti-chemical defenses were employed. After about two hours the alert was called off when repeated confirmation tests provided negative results.

"Since January l9th, the Czechoslovak unit has not found any other chemical substances."

The Czechoslovak anti-chemical defense unit had at its disposal all modern chemical surveillance and control technology. These we able to identify borderline levels (7evels that do not affect the functions of human organisms) of suspected toxic substances and they can differentiate the nerve agents, such as satin, from "V" agents.

All of the chemical specialists were professional soldiers (there were 56 of them assigned over the length of the conflict). They are all graduates of military colleges and in middle schools with a chemical defense major, and according to the curriculum, worked with highly toxic substances both in the laboratories and infield training. The training of anti-chemical specialists with selected types of poisonous materials had been conducted practically since the beginning of the anti-chemical defense program in 1956 until February 1990, when such training was halted because of complaints of destruction of the environment from environmental protection movements and the mayors of communities.

On the basis of the abovementioned facts, one can conclude that the event cannot in any was be connected with the use of chemical weapons or their use in battlefield activities, and harm to the Czechoslovak anti-chemical defense unit due to the military use of toxic substances could not have occurred.

These conclusions also are supported by health care specialists. Neither at the time of identification of the toxic substances, nor later, was any member of the unit put under medical care as a result of exposure at this event. All members of the unit were subjected to a complex examination in military hospitals after their return from the Persian Gulf -- primarily in the Central Military Hospital in Prague. Even there, no serious changes caused by demanding climatic conditions or by exposure to toxic substances were identified

Despite this, as of 31 August 1993, military doctors had examined 18 Persian Gulf veterans who suffered certain health problems, and three of them remain under a doctor's supervision. So far, in their cases, nothing has been identified beyond routine 'problems related to similar long-term stays abroad.

There were extensive early morning clouds over the entire area. These clouds gradually moved southward during the day as their bases raised to 8, 000 feet. Broken to overcast high clouds from the approaching frontal system begin to move in after 1200Z, quickly spreading over the entire area with ceilings from 20,000 to 25,000 feet. The high cloud base thickened and lowered to 10,000 to 15,000 feet by the end of the day.

Winds were from the south or southwest at 6-20 knots, becoming southeasterly after 1200Z and 3-12 knots after sunset.

Early morning visibility were as low as 3,200 meters with patchy ground fog in west central Iraq. Blowing sand and suspended dust reduced visibility to 3,200 meters during the afternoon on the Saudi Arabia - Iraq border.

High temperatures were 13-22 degrees Celsius, lows 6-10 degrees celsius.

The entire area was covered by clouds with bases at 10,000-15,000 feet. These quickly lowered to 3,000 feet and, in some places, to as low as 1,500 feet. The western part of the area began clearing in the afternoon, but 200 foot ceilings 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.

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 to 1,600 meters by the end of the day.

High pressure was centered in central Iraq and central Saudi Arabia The stationary frontal system over the area become active when an upper-air disturbance crossed it. A low pressure cell developed and moved the front southward.

Morning visibilities were near zero in dense fog throughout the area. The northern section cleared by 1200Z. Visibilities in the south rose to 3,200 meters at midday, then returned to as low as 800 meters for the rest of the day. Visibilities in the northern section were as low as 1,600 meters after sunset.

Temperatures fell in response to northerly winds. Highs were 10-18 degrees C; lows, 0-10 degrees C.

Light rain or showers fell over the southern half of the Tigris-Euphrates river valley and southwestern Iraq. There were isolated afternoon and evening thundershowers over the extreme southeast. Intermittent drizzle fell in the cool air moving west away from the northern Persian Gulf.

Winds were northwesterly to northerly over the Baghdad area, becoming northeasterly over the southern Tigris-Euphrates river valley. Over Kuwait and extreme southern Iraq, winds were northeasterly to easterly. Speeds diminished from 10-15 knots in the morning to 5-10 knots by mid-evening.

Visibilities in southern and southwestern Iraq and in extreme northeastern Saudi Arabia were near zero in fog during the night, but as high as 2, 000 meters in southern Iraq and Kuwait during mid-afternoon. After dark, they dropped rapidly to less than 500 meters. Visibilities in the Tigris-Euphrates river valley, northwest of the low clouds, improved to 10 km by late morning. Patchy dense river fog formed after 2100Z dropping visibilities to less than 500 meters.

High temperatures were 7-10 degrees Centigrade in the north and 18 degrees Centigrade in the south. There were freezing temperatures in Iraq and northern Saudi Arabia and subfreezing temperatures above 6,000 feet in the mountains of southeastern Turkey and northeastern Iraq. Central Saudi Arabian lows were 5-12 degrees C.

21 January 1991

Mid-level disturbances continued to move east-northeastern ward along the subtropical jet stream, crossing northern Saudi Arabia and Kuwait into Iran.

Extensive fog and low clouds also prevailed in this area. Cloud bases were from near zero to 500 meters, and lops reached 2,000 feet. The clouds and fog slowly dissipated by late morning over southwestern Iraq and northeastern Saudi Arabia as far east as Rafha and King Khalid Military City. Over northeastern Saudi Arabia, the low clouds and fog became broken with bases near 3, 000 feet and tops at 6, 000 feet by early afternoon. On the Saudi Arabian and Persian Gulf coast, early morning ceilings were also near zero, but by late morning, most clouds had become scattered. Patchy fog and low clouds reformed throughout all of northeastern Saudi Arabia and extreme southwestern Iraq shortly after dark Ceilings dropped to 200-500 feet by 2100Z. Layered middle and high clouds from 10,000-32,000 feet moved slowly southeastward over southern Iraq, northwestern Saudi Arabia and Kuwait; by 2100Z, they were over central and northeastern Saudi Arabia just southeast of Kuwait. Infrared satellite imagery taken just before sunrise in Kuwait shows these layered decks.

Precipitation, outside of thunderstorms and showers, was limited to light drizzle in areas of dense fog and low clouds.

Winds were northwesterly at 5-10 knots in southeastern Iraq and northeastern Saudi Arabia; they slowly became southeasterly at 5-10 knots in southwestern Iraq and in north-central and northwestern Saudi Arabia

Early morning visibilities in the fog and low cloud area ranged from zero to 500 meters, improving to 1,000-3,000 meters by late morning and to 5-5 kin by late afternoon. Visibilities were as low as 100 meters in desert fog patches. Patchy dense fog again formed after dark. The thickset fog was found along the Persian Gulf coastline and in shallow depressions inland where sand was still moist or where showers had occurred earlier in the day. On the Persian Gulf coast, visibilities improved from near zero at dawn to 1,000-2,000 meters by 0900Z, but dropped below 500 meters in fog by 1900Z. Patchy dense fog over and near the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers northwest of Basrah dissipated by 0600Z, but reformed after 1900Z.

22 January 1991

Easterly to east-northeasterly low-level winds continued to bring moisture to west-central and northwest Saudi Arabia. The sub tropical jet stream slowly weakened, but it continued to bring middle ad high clouds northeastward across the Arabian peninsula into Kuwait and southwestern Iran.

Fog and low clouds again persisted all night over northeastern Saudi Arabia the northern Saudi Arabian Persian Gulf coast, and extreme southwestern Iraq. Ceilings were again from near zero to 500 feet. Low clouds slowly lifted and dissipated, moving to a small area southwest of Kuwait by late morning. Bases were now 3,000 feet, with tops to 7,000 feet. Isolated thunderstorms, with bases as low as 2,000 feet, formed in late morning and early afternoon in extreme northeastern Saudi Arabia Kuwait, the northern Persian Gulf, and southwestern Iraq. Tops reached 40,000 feet. Layered broken middle and high clouds persisted from 10,000 to 27,000 feet throughout the day over central and northeastern Saudi Arabia Kuwait, and extreme southwestern Iraq. Iraq northwest of Basrah was clear. A visual DMSP satellite image taken shortly after sunrise in Kuwait, shows layered clouds with embedded thunderstorms over northeastern Saudi Arabia, the Persian Gulf, and southwestern Iron.

By sunset, low clouds and fog began to reform along the Iraq-Saudi Arabia border northwest as far as Rafha. By late evening, the fog had lifted into broken low clouds with bases from 1,000 to 2,000 feet and tops to 5,000 feet. These clouds had spread north and Northeastern as far as the central Tigris-Euphrates river valley by 2100Z.

Showers and thunderstorms fell over northeastern Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the northern Persian Gulf, and southwestern Iran. Patchy nighttime drizzle fell in area of dense fog and low clouds.

Visibilities dropped to less than 100 meters in fog before dawn.

By mid-afternoon, the frontal system had moved south of Baghdad. A weak high pressure center formed over Kuwait early in the day and moved slowly southeast in the northern Persian Gulf.The weak stationary frontal system in central Saudi Arabia weakened further. The southwest to northeast subtropical jet stream over central Saudi Arabia moved southeastward to Qatar by 2100Z.

Isolated blowing dust reduced visibilities to as low as 3,200 meters in western Iraq.

Extensive broken to overcast low clouds, with bases of 500-1,000 feet and tops to 1,500-2000 feet, covered northeastern and central Saudi Arabia. By early afternoon, skies were scattered to broken and bases had lifted to 3, 000 feet. This laser dissipated shortly before sunset over northeastern Saudi Arabia, but reformed by 2000Z. In early evening, broken low clouds from 3,000 to 5,000 feet moved north and northeastern ward over Kuwait and the southern Tiger-Euphrates river valley in advance of the southward-moving cold front. By 1200Z, the leading edge of broken to overcast frontal cloud lasers had moved south of Baghdad, with bases from 3,000 to 4,000 feet: lops were 12,000-15,000 feet with broken high clouds above. Isolated rain showers along and just ahead of the front reached 20,000 feet. By 2000Z, the leading edge of the frontal clouds had moved to near An Najaf in the Tigris-Euphrates river valley --the trailing edge was 60 miles north of Baghdad. Figure 3-8, a visual satellite image taken at 1037Z, shows these layered clouds well.

Isolated moderate to heavy rain showers fell in central Iraq along and within 100 miles either side of the southeastward-moving cold front. Patchy light drizzle fell in northeastern Saudi Arabia before 0500Z.

Winds were easterly at 5-7 knots before dawn, becoming southeasterly at 5-10 knots by late morning in extreme southern Iraq and northeastern Saudi Arabia. By 1700Z winds had veered to southerly at 10-15 knots. In central Iraq, winds were light and variable until 1200Z, becoming southerly at 10-20 knots after 1500Z.

24 January 1991

A 1200Z, heavy rain fell in extreme northern Saudi Arabia near the western Iraq border Fog formed during the night and through the morning in northern Saudi Arabia, along the western Saudi Arabia-Iraqi border, in northern Jordan, and in southern Syria

Winds were westerly to northwesterly at 10 knots during the first 12 hours, becoming northerly to northeasterly at 10 knots later in the day.

Visibilities in fog were as low as 5 km from 0000 to 1000Z in Saudi Arabia

25 January 1991

A low moved east-northeast across Syria and Iraq, producing light snow and rain showers, blowing dust, and extensive cloudiness. Conditions improved toward the end of the day as the system moved into Iran. By the end of the day, another low had developed along the eastern Mediterranean coast, increasing cloudiness in western Iraq.

The low produced light snow over western Iraq, northeastern Jordan, and Syria; light rain showers fell in northwestern Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Winds to 20 knots in northern Saudi Arabia produced duststorms from 0900 to 1500Z as far south as 28 degrees north.

Cloud cover was extensive until evening, by which time the system had moved into Iran. Broken to overcast low and middle clouds, along with some high clouds, preceded the low and its cold front. Scattered to broken low clouds followed the front; ceilings were 2,000-3,000 feet, but as low as 500 feet in rainshowers.

From 0400 to 1100Z in Saudi Arabia, fog reduced visibility to as low as 3,600 meters. Fog redeveloped in the evening. Some dust may have been advected into the area from storms farther west.

By 1800Z, a weak secondary low had formed along the front in Saudi Arabia near 27 degrees North, 44 degrees East, and drifted slowly east.

The low-pressure system produced light snow over southern Syria and light rainshowers in northern Saudi Arabia and western Iraq. Blowing dust south of the rain in Saudi Arabia reduced visibilities to 5 km. Winds were 20 knots around the low, but reached 30 knots with rain in northwestern Saudi Arabia

The low moving across southern Iraq produced extensive cloudiness, as well as thunderstorms with bases at 2, 000 feet and tops to 35,000 feet. Ceilings were as low as 800 feet in rainshowers.

Precipitation fell as light rain ad rainshowers in Saudi Arabia around the low. Rainshowers also fell in Iraq.

Winds were northwesterly at 5-15 knots most of the day, becoming northeasterly as the storm system approached and northwesterly again as it passed. Peak speeds were 23 knots, probably higher in Iraq.

Visibilities in eastern Iraq were 6 km in haze early in the day through 0600Z. Later in the day, visibilities on the south sides of showers and duststorms were reduced to 8 km.

The storm system produced significant weather over large parts of Saudi Arabia. Light rain and rainshowers moving east with the low persisted at some Gulf coastal stations until 1900Z. The low produced mutilayered clouds the first half of the day, but only low clouds the second half. A low overcast with fog developed behind the front in northwestern Saudi Arabia; fog dropped visibilities to as low as 200 meters. Skies improved by mid-morning and cleared by afternoon. Strong winds behind the front produced dust storms. Visibilities in northwestern Saudi Arabia were near zero in early evening because of blowing dust in 35 knot winds.

Skies were initially overcast in the southeastern two-thirds of the area but Baghdad and vicinity was clear. Middle and high clouds were only present the first half of the day; they dissipated and moved off to the east by 1200Z. The low clouds moved southeast during the day and were out of Iraq by 1500Z. After 1500Z, the low cloud remaining over Saudi Arabia and Kuwait was broken to overcast.

Precipitation fell from 0000 to 0600Z as light drizzle, rain, and rain showers.

Visibilities dropped to 9 km under the cloud cover in rain, fog, and haze.

High pressure began to dominate the weather over Iraq and northern Saudi Arabia, but parts of Saudi Arabia were still affected by weather left in the wake of the low-pressure system that prevailed on the 27th.

Skies were generally clear except for thin scattered high cloud at 22,000-28,000 feet over northern Iraq and heavy black smoke over southern Iraq--see Figure 3-14. Winds were northwesterly at 3-10 knots, becoming more northerly toward the end of the day. Visibilities were as low as 1,500 meters over southern Iraq in the heavy smoke.

A high-pressure area over Saudi Arabia weakened as it moved southeast toward Qatar. A mid- to upper-level disturbance moved across the northern part of the region, resulting in extensive cloudiness over northern Iraq and Turkey.

The disturbance produced light min and snow in Syria and snow in Turkey. There was extensive black smoke along the Persian Gulf coast. Suspended dust still reduced visibility in southern Saudi Arabia.

Isolated evening thunderstorms from 3, 000 to 35, 000 feet developed over southeastern Iraq. Some formed southwest of Baghdad at 1800Z.

Winds were near calm during the night, becoming east southeasterly at 5-10 knots in the morning and increasing 10-20 knots during the afternoon. On the Persian Gulf- coast, however, winds were northwesterly at 5-10 knots for the first half of the day before switching to east-southeast.

Visibilities were 8 km in blowing dust in the afternoon as the winds picked up. Black smoke reduced visibilities along the Persian Gulf coast--one station reported 9 km.

A low-pressure system developed in the eastern Mediterranean and moved eastward across Syria, reaching western Iraq by the end of the day.

Low clouds moved into western Iraq during the day with ceilings around 3,000 feet. The subtropical jet stream produced high clouds across central Saudi Arabia.

Cloud cover from the previous day 's disturbance remained over eastern Iraq and Kuwait; broken low clouds at 3,000-6, 000 feet in the north around Baghdad dissipated by 1100Z. Over Kuwait, broken middle clouds from 8,000 to 14,000 feet moved off to the east by 0600Z. Broken to overcast low clouds with 3,000-foot ceilings and 6,000-foot tops entered the western part of the area in the evening.

With the storm system approaching, winds were southerly to southeasterly at 5-10 knots.

Visibilities were restricted, primarily by haze and smoke from burning oil. Morning fog reduced visibility to 5 km in some spots; most haze restrictions were reported at 8km. Some dust was raised during the day with increasing winds from the approaching system.

A slow-moving low in the eastern Mediterranean Sea spread stormy weather throughout the Middle East as an associated frontal system passed through Iraq. At 0600Z, a secondary low-pressure cell was centered southwest of Baghdad. It rapidly moved northeastern while the cold front moved south and weakened. In north-central Saudi Arabia the strong subtropical jet stream spread extensive high clouds.

Broken to overcast low clouds extended over the area until about 1600Z, with ceilings over Iraq as low as 3, 000 feet and tops to 6, 000 feet. Baghdad was affected between 0200 mid 0900Z. Skies become clear in central Iraq and Kuwait after 1600Z as the front moved southward.

Isolated thunderstorms with tops to 35, 000 feet passed northeast of Baghdad near 1100Z. Rain fell in western Iraq when the low-pressure cell moved through.

Winds were southwesterly at 5-10 knots before the front and westerly to northerly at 15-20 knots immediately behind it.

Visibilities were reduced to 4,000 meters by duststorms in Kuwait and southern Iraq as the front passed. Ground fog lowered visibilities to about 6 kin in northeastern Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and southern Iraq.

Middle clouds covered the mountains to Iraq’s west and north. Light rain fell in Syria and northern Iraq between 1800 and 2100Z. Extensive areas of mountain-wave turbulence developed in the west between 0300Z and 1500Z and reached at Far East as 43 degrees east. Early-morning ground fog formed in low-lying areas over most of the eastern Arabian Peninsula. Lowest visibilities were 2,000-4,000 meters.

Winds were northeasterly at 5-10 knots in the south, westerly to the north. Afternoon winds were light and variable over central Iraq. Visibilities were generally good, but morning ground fog reduced them to about 6 km in northeast Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and southern Iraq.

Duststorms reduced visibilities in the northern Nafud Desert eastward to Southern Kuwait between 1200 and 2000Z. Minimum visibility was about 2,400 meters. Dense smoke was reported in Northwestern Kuwait before 0800Z--visibiliies were probably below 2,000 meters.

High temperatures were 13-16 degrees Celsius; lows, 2-11 degrees Celsius.

The frontal system in eastern Syria began to move slowly eastward and break up, resulting in lowered ceilings and gusty winds. The nearly dry front passed Baghdad at 2000Z. A weak front extended from central Iraq to near Riyadh, spreading low clouds to Iraq's eastern section. The subtropical jet stream became more westerly than northwesterly, leaving the northern Persian Gulf cloud-free but spreading scattered to broken middle and high clouds across Saudi Arabia.

Middle and high clouds from the subtropical jet stream had moved out of the area by 1000Z. In the morning, scattered to broken low clouds covered Iraq east of 43 degrees East and all of Kuwait. Some locations reported 3,000 foot ceilings. By 1200Z, the clouds had moved eastward to the Iraq-Turkey border. A small area of low clouds with 3,000 foot ceilings formed about 100 miles west of Baghdad at 1600Z.

High pressure centered in southeastern Egypt strengthened and built into northwestern Saudi Arabia. The low -pressure system that had been affecting northern Iraq continued to move eastward. By 0900Z, the trough had moved southeastward to the south of Qatar. The subtropical jet stream continued to spread high and middle clouds over the central Arabian Peninsula.

In the early morning, middle clouds produced 10,000 foot ceilings in a triangular area between 30 degrees North and a southwest-Northeastern line running from 60 miles south of Baghdad, then eastward to the Iraq border. These clouds rapidly moved southeastward. By 0600Z, they affected only the coast of Kuwait. The area was almost cloud-free by I000Z.

5 February 1991

High pressure centered in central Iraq kept skies clear or scattered most of the day, but clouds associated with the subtropical jet stream still spread high and middle clouds over the central Arabian Peninsula. These clouds were scattered in the morning, but denser clouds moved in from Egypt by 1000Z.

Morning haze reduced visibilities in central Saudi Arabia, Riyadh reported 4,800 meters at 0500Z, improving to 8 km by 0800Z. Duststorms after 2000Z were the result of 20-knot winds over the Syrian and Nafud Desert; they lowered visibility to 5 km.

Clouds were limited to scattered cirrus until about 1100Z, but the subtropical jet strewn moved scattered to broken middle and high clouds into southwestern Iraq later in the day. These clouds had moved over Kuwait by 1600Z, producing 10,000-foot ceilings during the night.

Winds were northeasterly at 10-15 knots along the coast, but light and variable in Iraq. As the front shifted farther north after 0900Z, winds in the south became stronger and more easterly. Visibilities were above 10 km except in Kuwait, where scattered fires and smoke plumes reduced visibility to below 4 km. High temperatures were 9-17 degrees Celsius; lows, 0-6 degrees Celsius.

Visible Smoke Plumes

6 February 1991

High pressure was centered in northwestern Iraq, with a weak low-pressure trough to the southeast between central Saudi Arabia- near Riyadh--and Israel. The subtropical jet stream remained over the northern Arabian Peninsula; associated high clouds became increasingly scattered after 0600Z.

Winds were light and variable in Iraq, but easterly at 5-10 knots in Kuwait. Morning fog, smoke, and dust reduced visibilities in Kuwait and southern Iraq to as low as 3,200 meters in spots. Afternoon visibilities in areas not affected by smoke were above 6 km.

Afternoon high temperatures were between 5 and 13 degrees Celsius. High pressure and almost clear skies drove morning low temperatures down to -2 degrees Celsius in the north and 7 degrees Celsius in the south.

A low-pressure system over northeastern Saudi Arabia resulted in afternoon and evening rainshowers and thunderstorms over Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf. The subtropical jet stream brought middle and upper cloudiness to central Saudi Arabia Weak high pressure was centered over Iraq.

Early morning skies were generally clear, but scattered middle clouds from the west moved into central Iraq and Kuwait by mid-morning. The middle clouds over central Iraq went scattered to broken at 10,000 feet by late morning. Skies became scattered by early afternoon. By early evening, cloud cover over Kuwait and southeast Iraq became scattered, variable to broken, at 10,000-18,000 feet. Isolated evening thunderstorms developed over extreme northern Kuwait; tops reached 30,000 feet.

Early morning winds were light and variable, becoming northwesterly to northerly at 10-15 knots by late morning. Haze and suspended dust reduced visibilities over central Iraq to 7-9 km. Smoke, haze, and suspended dust reduced visibilities in northern Kuwait to 5-7 km and to 1,600 meters in southern Kuwait.

High temperatures were 7-15 degrees Celsius; los, 0-6 degrees Celsius.

The low pressure system was now located over southeastern Saudi Arabia. The subtropical jet stream brought middle and high clouds across eastern Saudi Arabia. Weak high pressure was centered over Iraq.

Although skies w ere generally clear, broken middle clouds at 10, 000 to 12,000 feet were observed over east-southeastern Saudi Arabia during early morning. Skies were broken to overcast at 4,000-5,000 feet between 0500 and 1300Z over northwestern and north-central Saudi Arabia. Scattered middle clouds were observed over western Iraq in the morning and afternoon, becoming broken at 10,000-12,000 feet duping the evening. Blowing sand and dust lowered visibilities to 5-7 kin in east central Saudi Arabia.

Skies were generally clear, but scattered middle clouds were observed over southeastern Iraq duping early morning. By mid-afternoon, there were scattered middle clouds over central Iraq. By late night, these became scattered to broken at 10,000-12,000feet.

Winds were light and variable in the morning, becoming northwesterly to northerly at 10-15 knots. Visibilities in smoke over southern Kuwait and southeast Iraq were less than 1,600 meters . High temperatures were 7-15 degrees Celsius; lows. 0-6 degrees Celsius.

Skies were clear except for scattered low clouds over northwestern Saudi Arabia and western Iraq. Winds increased to 15 knots with gusts of 25 knots across northern Saudi Arabia, where afternoon visibilities decreased to 4,800 meters in blowing sand and dust.

Early morning skies over central Iraq were broken at 10, 000-12,000 feet. The clouds slowly moved into southeastern Iraq and dissipated during the day.

Winds were westerly to northwesterly at 10-20 knots. Smoke and haze lowered visibilities in Kuwait to 5-7 km. High temperatures were 12-20 degrees Celsius: lows. 2-8 degrees Celsius.

High pressure continued to dominate. Skies over Saudi Arabia and Iraq were clear during the day, but scattered to broken mid-level clouds with bases at 10,000-12,000 feet moved into western Iraq by late evening.

Skies were clear during the day, but by late evening, scattered to broken mid-level clouds with bases at 10,000-12,000 feet moved into central Iraq.

Winds were northwesterly at 5-10 knots. Thick smoke over east and southeast Iraq began to show in satellite photos by 0600Z and lasted until early evening. Smoke from southern Kuwait was also still visible; visibilities in the smoke were 800-1,600 meters. High temperatures were 10-15 degrees Celsius; lows, 0-5 degrees Celsius.

High pressure was centered over southeastern Saudi Arabia but low pressure formed over western Saudi Arabia. The subtropical jet stream brought increased moisture in the mid- and upper-levels to Iraq and northern Saudi Arabia. A mid-level disturbance moving over Iraq and northern Saudi Arabia caused isolated thunderstorms and rainshowers.

Scattered high clouds over western Iraq became broken with bases at 20,000 feel from mid-morning through afternoon. There were scattered low clouds over northwestern and east central Saudi Arabia during the day.

Winds accompanying the thunderstorms in Kuwait reached 25-35 knots, but over the rest of the area they were northwesterly at 10-15 knots.

Smoke and haze lowered morning visibilities to 4,800 meters in Kuwait and southeastern Iraq. Rain and rainshowers reduced evening visibilities to 1,600 - 3,200 meters. High temperatures were 10-15 degrees Celsius; lows were 0-5 degrees Celsius.

Visible Smoke Plumes

Imagery in Gulf War Weather shows smoke plumes clearly visible over Kuwait. Direction: South; Smoke plumes are also visible over southeastern Iraq. Direction: SSE.

High pressure dominated, but a low-pressure system moved into the eastern Mediterranean by the end of the day increasing cloudiness over western Iraq.

Broken middle clouds at 8,000-10,000 feet were present over northeast, east and central Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf during the morning. By late evening, them were scattered to broken high clouds at 20,000-25,000 feet over western Iraq.

Broken middle clouds at 8,000-10,000 feet remained over Kuwait until mid-morning. Scattered upper clouds moved into central Iraq by late evening.

Winds were northwesterly, to northerly at 10-15 knots. High temperatures were 10-15 degrees Celsius; lows 0-5 degrees Celsius. Visibilities in Kuwait were 5-7 km due to smoke and haze

Visible Smoke Plumes

13 February 1991

High pressure dominated the Saudi Arabian peninsula but low pressure centered over the eastern Mediterranean sent moisture into Iraq and northern Saudi Arabia. The low moved to the northeast as high pressure intensified behind it.

Scattered skies became broken to overcast over western and northern Iraq. The 25,000 foot ceilings prevailing in the morning became 8,000- 10,000 feet during the day. By the end of the day, skies were scattered again. Over northern Saudi Arabia, skies were scattered, but occasionally broken, at 20,000-25, 000 feet.

Scattered skies became gradually broken over central, east-central, and southeast Iraq and Kuwait. Smoke plumes were visible over southern Kuwait and the northern Saudi Arabian Gulf Coast. (see below)

Winds were northwesterly at 10-15 knots. Visibilities in southeastern Iraq and Kuwait were 5-7 kilometers in smoke and haze. High temperatures were 13-16 degrees Celsius; lows, 1-4 degrees Celsius.

High pressure over Iran and Syria resulted in fair weather across most of the region.

Morning skies over northern Iraq were overcast with middle and high clouds; ceilings were as low as 10,000 feet. The clouds moved eastward and were over Iran by 1200Z. Broken low and middle clouds over central and southern Saudi Arabia produced 5,000foot ceilings with scattered light rainshowers and 9-km visibilities. The clouds moved southeastward and became scattered after 1200Z. Visibilities in western and southern Mail were as low as 6 km where 20-knot winds resulted in localized suspended and blowing dust.

Cloud cover consisted only of thin scattered high clouds over eastern Iraq and Kuwait: bases were 20,000 feet; tops 25,000 feet. The high clouds moved east into Iran by 1200Z. Winds were light and variable in the early morning, becoming northerly to easterly at 5-15 knots during the day.

Morning visibilities along the Persian Gulf coast near Kuwait were 8 km in fog. Widespread haze over northern Saudi Arabia produced visibilities of 8 km. High temperatures were 16-18 degrees Celsius; lows were 2-5 degrees Celsius.

High pressure over Iran and Turkey extended southward across most of the region. Broken high clouds passed through western Iraq to the east during the afternoon, followed in the evening by a large shield of high cloud entering from the west. Scattered to broken high clouds over parts of central and southern Saudi Arabia-with bases between 9,000 and 12,000 feet--dissipatedparrially during the day. Blowing dust in northern and western Saudi Arabia reduced visibilities to as low as 5 km.

Broken high clouds passed through the area between 130OZ and 2100Z with bases at 24,000 feet and tops to 32,000 feet. There were followed by scattered high clouds that moved into central Iraq from the west by the end of the day. Scattered bases were at 24,000 feet with tops to 32,000 feet.

High pressure over Iran weakened as a strong frontal system approached from the west. The polar jet stream dipped southward into the eastern Mediterranean as the subtropical jet stream crossed Egypt and brought in upper-level moisture. A new low-pressure center formed on the front over Syria by 1500Z and moved southeast. The low and its accompanying cold front reached western Iraq by 1800Z.

Multiple cloud lasers covered the region southward to 25 degrees North with scattered to broken low clouds and broken to overcast middle and high clouds. Light rain and rainshowers lowered ceilings to 1,000 feet and visibilities to 1,100 meters. The blowing dust already present in northwestern Saudi Arabia at 0000Z spread to include much of northern Saudi Arabic, especially south of the rain. Winds up to 30 knots produced dust storms with visibilities as low as 200 meters in northern Saudi Arabia, Syria and western Iraq.

Cloud cover increased and ceilings lowered during the day. Skies were initially scattered with high clouds from 27,000 to 30,000 feet, but became broken to overcast by morning, with multiple lasers between 25,000 and 35,000 feet. Bases lowered to 20,000 feet by 0700Z. Broken middle clouds reached central Iraq at about 1100Z with 12,000 foot bases and 18,000foot tops. Scattered low clouds moved in by early evening with 2,000 foot bases and 6,000 foot tops; middle-cloud ceilings were down to 8,000 feet by then. Low clouds increased in the evening. Light rain and rain showers lowered ceilings to 1, 000 feet.

Winds varied from easterly to southerly with the approaching frontal system. Initial 5- to 10-knot speeds increased during the day. The highest reported sustained speed was 30 knots.

Visibilities worsened throughout the day. Dense black smoke over the southern half of Kuwait reduced visibilities to 6 km-- some pilots reported certain areas as "unworkable." Duststorms developed at wind speeds reached 20 knots around 0900Z; speeds to 30 knots dropped visibilities to as low as 200 meters later in the day. Local evening visibilities were as low as 1,100 meters. High temperatures increased to 20-25 degrees Celsius as the front brought warm air into the region; lows were 6-8 degrees Celsius.

A low-pressure area moved northeast from central Iraq across Iran as its cold front moved through most of Iraq. A weak secondary low formed along the front in south-central Iraq near the Saudi Arabian border. The cold front continued southward into central Saudi Arabia and weakened. High pressure intensified behind the front.

Rain fell along the front in northern Saudi Arabia early in the day, but moved into central Saudi Arabia by evening. Visibilities were 8 km, but dropped to 4,700 meters in a 1500Z thunderstorm in west-central Saudi Arabia. Blowing dust ahead of the front reduced visibilities to as low as 1, 700 meters. Duststorms behind the front dropped visibility as low as 900 meters in western Iraq. Skies over central Saudi Arabia w ere scattered as 4, 000 feet, and broken to overcast at 10, 000 feet

Cloud cover from 0000Z to 1100Z was broken to overcast with layered low and middle clouds: ceilings were 3,000 feet, tops to 15,000 feet. Skies over southern Iraq and Kuwait were overcast at between 20,000 and 35,000feel. Skies in Iraq began to clear by 1100Z, leaving scattered low clouds from 3, 000 to 6,000 feet that continued moving east and south; all of Iraq, except for its extreme northern border, was clear after 1600Z.

Rain and rainshowers fell over northeastern Saudi Arabia southeastern Iraq, and Kuwait. The bases of late-morning thunderstorms near the Saudi Arabia border were 3,000 feet, with tops to 35,000 feet. The rain moved eastward by evening.

Winds were southerly to southeasterly at 5-15 knots ahead of the low and cold front, and northerly to northwesterly at 5-20 knots behind it. Speeds diminished to 5-10 knots in the evening.

Visibility in rain was 4,700 meters. Blowing dust in some areas of northeastern Saudi Arabia that had remained dry lowered visibilities to 6 km. Evening fog formed locally where rain had fallen, lowering visibilities to 6 km.

Daytime temperatures were highest (20 degrees Celsius) in the west where skies cleared first, but highs in the east were as low as 14 degrees Celsius. Daily lows were in the evening after the cold front had passed. Lows ranged from 6 degrees Celsius in the north to 12 degrees Celsius in the south.

A high-pressure cell moved over Iraq and dominated much of the region weather. Morning fog developed over north-central and northwestern Saudi Arabia but dissipated by early afternoon. Clouds associated with yesterday's cold front were over central Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf, where they produced scattered light rain through the morning until moving into the Arabian Sea in the afternoon. Skies were scattered from 3,000 to 6,000 feet, broken from 10,000 to 18,000 feet, and broken from 28,000 to 33,000feet.

Thick morning ground fog lifted to form 1,000 foot ceilings that dissipated by about 1000Z. Broken middle clouds over southern Kuwait and northwestern Saudi Arabia moved off to the southeast during the first 6 hours of the day; ceilings were 7,000 feet with tops to 12,000 feet. Middle and high clouds moved into the region from the northwest during the second half of the day; scattered to broken middle clouds were from 8, 000 to 18,000 feet and thin broken high clouds were from 29, 000 to 35,000 feet.

Winds were generally light and variable in the north, but northerly to northeasterly at 5-10 knots in the south. Visibilities ranged from near zero to 2, 000 meters in thick and extensive morning fog across portions of Iraq and Saudi Arabia. The fog, which was concentrated over (and to the west of) the Tigris-Euphrates river valley in Iraq, didn't bum off until about 1000Z. Fog formed again in the evening over northern Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, dropping visibilities to 4,800 meters. High temperatures were 17-20 degrees Celsius; lows ranged from 5 degrees Celsius in clear areas to 11 degrees Celsius under the fog.

A low-pressure area developed over Syria and moved eastward into northwestern Iraq. A, secondary low developed in northwestern Saudi Arabia and moved eastward into northern Saudi Arabia. Two lines of strong thunderstorms-- one over northern Saudi Arabia one over Iraq-- developed between 1500 and 1800Z and continued well into the next day.

Scattered low clouds over western Iraq and northern Saudi Arabia early in the day were from 3,000 to 5,000feet. Thin high clouds moved in that afternoon, Thunderstorm bases were at 3,000 feet, tops to 35,000 feet Rain and rainshowers began after 1500Z. In central Saudi Arabia, scattered to broken low and middle clouds, with bases at 4.000 and 10,000 feet, produced scattered evening rainshowers.

Cloud cover in the first 6 hours was limited to southeastern Iraq and Kuwait, where skies were scattered at 3,000 and 5,000 feet and thin broken from 20,000 to 25,000 feet. After these had cleared out in the afternoon, a new high thin broken layer at 22,000 to 25,000feet moved in. Convective actively from the west entered the area at about 1800Z, producing bases that were generally 3,000 feet, but as low as 1,000 feel in thunderstorms; tops were to 35,000feet Convective cells consolidated to form a nearly solid, north-south line in central Iraq as another, similar line formed in northern Saudi Arabia Middle-cloud ceilings outside showers were at 10,000 feet.

Thunderstorms produced localized moderate to heavy rain after 180OZ. Light rain and rainshowers fell outside the areas of strong convection.

Winds were east southeasterly at 5-10 knots during the first half of the day, increasing to 15-20 knots by afternoon. Isolated gusts to 30 knots occurred with thunderstorms. Visibilities were less than 1,000 meters in rain associated with thunderstorms, but 7 and 9 km elsewhere in rainshowers, black smoke from Kuwait, fog, and or blowing dust. High temperatures were 19-21 degrees Celsius; lows, 7-11 degrees Celsius.

A cold front moved southeast across central and eastern Saudi Arabia, producing scattered rain showers and visibilities as low as 800 meters in blowing dust. Skies were scattered from 4,000 to 6,000 feet and broken from 10,000 to 15,000 feet. Thunderstorms that had been in northern Iraq earlier in the day moved into Iran, followed by broken to overcast low and middle clouds with ceilings at 3,500 feet. Western Iraq remained generally clear

Thunderstorms moved across the area from west to east. Bases were at 1,000 feet and tops reached 40,000 feet. Cloud cover outside thunderstorms was broken to overcast, and multilayered from 3,000 to 35,000 feet. Surface moisture helped produce low broken clouds west of the front in central Iraq: ceilings were 3,500 feet, with tops to 6,000feet. There were also broken middle clouds from 10,000 to 15,000 feet. Parts of south-central Iraq and north-central Saudi Arabia cleared as thunderstorms moved east.

Winds were east-southeasterly at 10-20 knots, becoming west-northeasterly at 10-25 knots as the storm moved through. Isolated thunderstorms were above 30 knots.

Visibilities were 9 km outside thunderstorms, but less than, 1,000 meters in heavy thundershowers. Blowing dust in areas along the front that had not received much rain lowered visibilities to 7 km. Evening fog formed along the Persian Gulf coast, lowering visibilities to 1,500 meters by 2300Z.

High temperatures ranged from 24 degrees Celsius in the southeast ahead of the cold front to as low as 15 degrees Celsius in the northwest behind it. Lows were 9 degrees Celsius in the north mid 14 degrees Celsius in the southeast.

A low-pressure system moving south along the Persian Gulf neared Dhahran by 0300Z; by 1500Z, it was on the United Arab Emirates coast near 53 degrees East. Its cloudless cold front extended southwest across the Arabian Peninsula. By 0900Z, an area of high pressure had formed in northwestern Saudi Arabia near the Iraqi border

Winds were northeasterly or northerly at 10 knots in the south, easterly at 10-15 knots in the north. Central Iraq's winds were light and variable. Highest speeds -- 20 knots along the northeastern Saudi Arabian border-- were reported at 150OZ.

A dense band of smoke aloft extended from the northern Persian Gulf along the Saudi Arabian coast into the Rub al Khali. Bases were about 10,000 feet, tops to 18,000 feet. Skies were clear to scattered, but scattered to broken middle and high clouds moved over the extreme northeastern by 1800Z. Ceilings, where present, were 10,000 feet with tops to 15,000 feet. The middle and high clouds were nearing Baghdad by 2300Z.

Visibilities were unrestricted except for areas affected by smoke, where they were generally about 6 km. Pilots reported smoke tops to about 15,000 feet and in flight visibilities as low as 1,000 feet. Dense smoke over and south of Kuwait

Winds were light and variable before 1500Z, becoming southeasterly to easterly at 5-10 knots to the east of the front after 150OZ. Elsewhere, winds remained light. After sunset, winds were newly calm. High temperatures were 13-18 degrees Celsius; lows, 1-8 degrees Celsius. The lowest temperatures were in the eastern Nafud Desert.

High pressure centered over the eastern Arabian Peninsula moved southeastward into the Rub al Khali by 2000Z. Even though the frontal system dissipated as it moved across northwest Saudi Arabia, it still caused isolated light showers and duststorms. The subtropical jet stream brought middle and high clouds eastward over the area after 0900Z. Low pressure formed over the Red Sea

Fog reduced visibilities along the central Persian Gulf to about 1,000 meters between 0100 and 040OZ and reformed after 2000Z. Scattered to broken low and middle clouds with light isolated rainshowers reduced visibilities to 10 km along the weak low-pressure system in the west. Duststorms caused 4,000 meter visibilities in the Syrian and Nafud Deserts between 0900 and 1700Z. Middle and high clouds produced 10,000 foot ceilings over northwestern Saudi Arabia after 0900Z. Smoke from the Kuwaiti oilfields had reached Qatar, although concentrated at 10,000-12,000 feet, the smoke mixed with haze at lower levels to produce 6-km visibilities.

In the west, the low-pressure system caused scattered to broken clouds at 10,000 feet until about 060OZ, when they became scattered. By 120OZ, middle and high clouds began to move into the area south of 31 degrees north, causing broken to ceilings at 10,000 to 12,000feet. These clouds were east of 45 degrees East by 190OZ. Between 0400 and 160OZ, another band of middle and high clouds formed along the Iran-Iraq border north of 32 degrees North. Ceilings were about 8,000 feet, with tops to 32,000 feet. Isolated thunderstorms formed over Kuwait by 200OZ, with 2,500 foot bases and tops to 35,000 feet.

A low-pressure system moved slowly eastward along the Iraq-Saudi Arabia border. High pressure was still centered over the Southeastern Arabian Peninsula. The subtropical jet stream's middle and high clouds moved eastward over the Persian Gulf. They were out of the area by about 1900Z, but another upper-level disturbance brought more high and middle clouds eastward. At 1500Z, these clouds were in north-central Saudi Arabia.

Morning fog again blanketed the central Persian Gulf coast between Dhahran and the Strait of Hormuz. Visibility was poorest (2,000 meters) south of Qatar. Gust winds and blowing dust accompanied the low near the northern Saudi Arabian border where 15- to 20-knot winds raised dust that reduced visibilities to 6 km. Broken to overcast middle cloudy produced 8, 000 foot ceilings over the northern Persian Gulf but embedded low clouds resulted in isolated ceilings at 3,000 feet. Isolated rainshowers fell near the low, reducing visibilities to 8 km. Isolated thunderstorms, with bases at 2,500 feet and tops to 30,000feet, developed southwest of Riyadh between 1500 and 2200Z. Smoke reduced visibilities and obscured skies along the Persian Gulf as far south as 23 degrees North.

In Kuwait and southern Iraq, skies were broken overcast with 8,000 foot ceilings until about 0500Z. Tops of these multilayered clouds reached 35,000 feet. There were isolated 2,500-foot ceilings. By 0500Z, the higher clouds had moved east, leaving scattered to broken low clouds over Kuwait. In the evening, more middle and high clouds began to move into the southern half from the west. They reached western Kuwait by 2000Z, bringing 9,000-foot ceilings and tops to 30,000 feet.

Isolated Rainshowers and thunderstorms affected Kuwait and southeastern Iraq until 060OZ. Rain, heavy at times, reduced visibility to 5 km. Winds in Saudi Arabia end western Iraq were southwesterly to westerly at 10-15 knots, increasing to 15-25 knots by 0900Z south of 32 degrees North, with gusts to 30 knots. By 2100Z, speeds had diminished to 10-15 knots. Winds in the Tigris-Euphrates river valley were southeasterly at 10-20 knots, but dropped to 3-5 knots after sunset.

Dust storms reduced visibilities to as low as 1,000 meters in Kuwait and southern Iraq between 0900 and 2100Z. Dense smoke from the Kuwaiti oil fires moved northwestward. Visibilities just south of Baghdad were less than 3,000 meters. Fog formed after 2100Z in Kuwait and southern Iraq, reducing visibilities to less than 4,000 meters. Afternoon high temperatures were 10-21 degrees Celsius; morning lows ranged from 1 degree Celsius in the northeast to 15 degrees Celsius in the southeast.

An upper-air disturbance moving northeastward spread stormy weather over the northern Arabian Peninsula; by 0900Z, most of the region was covered with clouds. A low-pressure system lingered over northwestern Saudi Arabia as the high-pressure cell in the southeast moved eastward. Low pressure moving east from the northeastern Mediterranean spread clouds southeastward over northern Iraq.

Fog reduced visibilities to as low as 1,500 meters from northeastern Saudi Arabia to the United Arab Emirates coast (and to as low as 500 meters in the Tigris-Euphrates river valley) before 0400Z and again after 2000Z. Broken middle and high multilayered clouds with tops to 30, 000 feet spread 9, 000-foot ceilings from the northern Red Sea to the northern Persian Gulf and along the Iran-Iraq border. Isolated thunderstorm s and rainshowers formed over northwestern Saudi Arabia throughout the day. They were most intense and widespread at about 1600Z northwest of Riyadh, along the southern Iraq-Iran border, and in extreme western Iraq near the Jordan border. Some of these storms were dry, creating intense, localized duststorms that reduced visibilities to well below 1,000 meters. Widespread duststorms were reported in the northern Arabian Peninsula and the Syrian Desert between 0900 and 2000Z with visibilities as low as 4,000 meters. Prevailing winds were as high as 30 knots in northeastern Saudi Arabia

Winds were southeasterly at 5-10 knots until 0900Z. Afternoon winds were stronger at 15-20 knots, with gusts to 40. Fog and smoke reduced visibilities to below 2,000 meters in southern Iraq and Kuwait. Visibilities improved to 8 km by 0600Z, but sporadic dust storms in the afternoon reduced them to 4,000 meters. High temperatures were 14-21 degrees Celsius; lows, 3-16 degrees Celsius.

As the upper-air disturbance moved northeast, it continued to produce heavy rainshowers and dust storms over the area. A surface trough formed between the low pressure area in central Saudi Arabia and another moving through southern Turkey. By 2100Z, the trough stretched through Iraq along 43 degrees east. An area of high pressure was located in central Iran and the extreme southeastern Arabian Peninsula

North, 45 minutes East, to 31 degrees North, 41 minutes East. Thunderstorms also formed over eastern Kuwait and extreme southwestern Iraq after 1500Z. Cloud bases were 3,000 feet and tops reach 35,000 feet.

Intermittent rainshowers and thunderstorms fell southeast of a line extending from 34 degrees North, 46 minutes East, to 31 degrees North, 42 minutes East, throughout the day.

Winds were southeasterly at 10-15 knots, but by 1200Z, speeds in the east reached 20-30 knots. Winds in the west shifted to northwesterly at 10-15 knots as the trough moved eastward. Fog and smoke reduced visibilities to below 2,000 meters from the central Tigris-Euphrates river valley to Kuwait. Visibilities improved to 8 km by 060OZ, but sporadic dust storms in the afternoon reduced visibilities to 4,000 meters. Visibilities in heavy rainshowers may have dropped to as low as 1,000 meters. High temperatures were 17-21 degrees Celsius; lows, 7-16 degrees Celsius.

A low-pressure cell that had been centered in southeastern Iraq at 1000Z slid southeastward into the Persian Gulf throughout the day. A weak frontal system in the eastern Mediterranean Sea moved onshore and was in central Iraq by the end of the day.

In western Iraq and northwestern Saudi Arabia, skies were scattered with bases at 10,000 feet throughout the morning. Clouds from the front approaching from the Mediterranean began moving in by 1100Z, forming ceilings rapidly. Rain began lowering visibilities to 5 km by 130OZ. Thunderstorms developed in the afternoon as the clouds moved eastward. By the end of the day, clouds and rain were confined to the western Saudi Arabia-Iraq border. In north-central and northeastern Saudi Arabia broken clouds, multilayered from 3,000 to 25,000 feet with rainshowers and thunderstorms, prevailed. Visibilities were 4,800 meters in ground fog, rain and haze, but near zero in blowing dust from thunderstorms. Clouds moved slowly southeast to east central Saudi Arabia by day 's end.

Broken multilayered clouds from 3,000 to 25,000 feet covered the southern half of the area, but cleared from the northwest by noon, leaving scattered clouds at 3,000 feet and broken clouds at 6,000-8,000 feet over southeast Iraq and Kuwait. These also cleared by 1900Z. A smoke layer at 2,500 feet covered most of central and southern Kuwait throughout the day. A line of broken 4,000-foot clouds associated with the from the Mediterranean invaded the western part of the area by noon. The line was past Baghdad and into north central Saudi Arabia by the end of the day. Rainshowers and thunderstorms were widespread in the southern half of the area through the morning. Light rain fell in the western half as the front passed.

Winds were northwesterly to northeasterly at 5-15 knots (but up to 25 knots in thunderstorms) in the southern half of the area. Winds became southwesterly at 5-15 knots as the front approached, and northwesterly at 8-20 knots behind it. Visibilities were near zero in dense fog along the Tigris-Euphrates river basin. There were also near zero in the southern half of the area where thunderstorms produced blowing dust. Elsewhere, morning visibilities were 5 km in ground fog, rain, and haze. Rain lowered visibilities to 4,800 meters in the western half of the area as the front passed. Smoke limited visibility aloft to 1,600 meters over Kuwait. High temperatures were 13-20 degrees Celsius; lows, 7-16 degrees Celsius.

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.

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 drizzle 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. 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, reduced late afternoon and many evening visibilities to 1,600-4,000 meters, with isolated reports of 100 meters.

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.

High Pressure dominated, but a low-pressure system developed over the eastern Mediterranean by the end of the day. sending moisture into western areas. Skies were clear to scattered over in most of the area but scattered to broken at 1,000-2,000 feet over northeastern and eastern Saudi Arabia due to smoke. Scattered to broken low clouds at 3,000 feet, with occasionally broken middle and high ceilings, moved into western Iraq and northwestern Saudi Arabia by mid-afternoon. Winds were northwesterly to northerly at 10-15 knots. Visibilities in northeastern Saudi Arabia were 6-8 km in smoke and haze. Blowing sand and dust reduced early morning visibilities to 3,200 meters in east-central and eastern Saudi Arabia. Scattered, occasionally broken, middle clouds at 8,000- 10,000 feet moved into central Iraq by mid-afternoon.

Winds were northwesterly at 10-15 knots. Smoke and haze reduced visibilities in Kuwait to 5-7 km, occasionally to 3,200 meters. High temperatures were 15-20 degrees Celsius; lows, 5-10 degrees Celsius.

High pressure dominated as a low-pressure system moved northeast and brought moisture across Iraq and northern Saudi Arabia. Skies were broken to overcast at 8,000-10,000 feet, but early morning ceilings were 3,000-5,000 feet in showers over western and northern Iraq. Smoke formed a broken layer at 2,000-3, 000 feet over northeast and east central Saudi Arabia during the morning. Skies over the rest of the area were clear to scattered. Isolated rainshowers and thunderstorms with tops to 35, 000 feet developed during early morning in northern Iraq. Visibilities were 6-8 km in precipitation. Haze reduced morning visibilities to 4,800 meters in east-central Saudi Arabia. Smoke reduced morning visibilities in eastern Saudi Arabia to 4,800 meters; in the afternoon and evening, to 4,000 meters.