DESERT STORM WEATHER 17 JANUARY-2 MARCH 1991

File: aabva_74.txt
Page: 74
Total Pages: 106
DESERT STORM                                    18 February 1991

General Weather.  A high-pressure cell moved over Iraq and
dominated much of the region's weather.

Area of Interest.  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
33,000 feet.  Figure 3-35 Shows these layered clouds.

Area of Intense Interest.  Thick morning ground fog lifted to form
1,000-foot ceilings that dissipated by about 1000Z.  Broken middle
clouds over southern Kuwait and northeastern 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 maters 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 burn 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( C; lows ranged from 5( C in clear
areas to 11( C under the fog.







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