Just take a look at these photos of the weather we had in Riyadh yesterday afternoon! The day started out quite clear but just before midday the skies suddenly darkened, everything turned a eerie shade of orange and a sandstorm blew up! Visibility was extremely poor, even on the main roads we could only see a few metres ahead, if that.
Today has been much better but we are left with a layer of fine sand on all outside surfaces. Even the bushes look like they are covered with ash and need a good hosing down.
You can also view a short video on the BBC website of the sand sweeping in towards the city centre. The video was taken from the 53rd floor of the Mamlaka (Kingdom) Tower.
All we need now is a good burst of rain to clear the air… let’s pray!
16 responses so far ↓
Aalya // March 11, 2009 at 6:47 pm
Wow that is amazing! Kind of scary too… I imagine a good rain is exactly what is needed! Thanks for the pics…always love to see how it is in other parts of the world!
rainbow // March 11, 2009 at 6:54 pm
subhanallah youwould need the bedouin face covering. Nice to see you back.
Umm Ibrahim // March 11, 2009 at 7:06 pm
Assalaamu alaikum,
Thanks ladies! The video on the bbc website makes it look realy but it’s more unpleasant than scary.
Oh yes Rainbow… just about everybody had their faces covered yesterday afternoon even the men either with their shmagh like real Bedouins in the desert or with one of those little cardboard masks you can buy when you are home decorating. I think those masks are good business here!
Umm Travis // March 11, 2009 at 7:19 pm
it looks so cooL! ma shaa Allah! What we had in Egypt over the wknd seems to barely compare (although the husband was saying HOW BAD THE WEATHER was all day hahahaha)
ines // March 11, 2009 at 11:32 pm
thanks for the pics sis, Yes I love to know what is happening in other parts of the world too. Subhanallah.
Digital Nomad // March 12, 2009 at 5:30 am
Assalaamu’Alaykum
Sooo nice to see an update from you, sweet sis! SubhanAllah, that looks amazing. How long does the dust stick around for? I remember someone saying it causes an unholy mess if one has just happened to dust the furniture 
Pics are awesome, btw, mashaAllah.
um almujahid // March 12, 2009 at 2:52 pm
assalamu alaykum
I had enough of lentils! Alhamdulillah a new post
Glad to see u back blogging mash’Allah!
Subhan’Allah, the sandstorm looks scary!!
Umm Hibaat // March 14, 2009 at 10:36 am
Assalaamu Alaykum,
So good to see a post from you sis! I was wondering what it must have been like in Riyadh as I’d heard it was quite severe. We get a much lighter version of sandstorm here! I LOVE the pics esp the first one ma sha Allah!
xxx
ummabdurrahman // March 14, 2009 at 11:06 pm
welcome back umm ibrahim. We missed you.
Lorelei Loveridge // March 15, 2009 at 12:44 am
Oh, my…it’s at moments like these that I sincerely miss Saudi Arabia. One extreme I find quite beautiful.
Somayya // March 15, 2009 at 1:18 pm
AsSalaam Alaikum
Nice to see you back blogging sis. The pictures are amazing. So how much of that sand made its way into your home?????
Umm Ibrahim // March 16, 2009 at 7:34 pm
Assalaamu alaikum,
Thanks for visiting and for your comments! I was lucky this time… I remembered to close the bathroom window and not too much dust migrated into the house through door cracks. The next day was slightly hazy but it cleared up reasonably well considering how severe it was. Everything outside needed to be sprayed down though – looked like some kind of fallout on the bushes and car!
Farhana // March 19, 2009 at 3:21 am
As-salaamu’alaykum wa Rahmatu Llahi wa Barakatuhu my dearest sister,
Wow! I don’t want to think about how much cleaning is involved after this!
Does this happen often?
Lots of Love
Farhana
Jamila // March 24, 2009 at 3:47 am
Essalam Alaikum Sister,
These pictures look like they were taken in Algeria last year. We live in the South and it’s just like that there! Subhan’Allah.
Your Sister,
Jamila
SusieOfArabia // April 4, 2009 at 11:21 pm
The satellite photos of these sandstorms are pretty amazing too if you have seen them. Luckily we haven’t had it too bad here in Jeddah!
AMW Brandy Aminah // July 7, 2009 at 12:17 pm
Love sandstorms really isn’t that eeirie orange glow just subhanAllah amazing? Never forget that shade of orange no matter where I ever go. It should be a Crayola Color”Sandstorm Orange”.
Oh I was just gonna blog about a nasty one we had here. Normally living on the edge fo the city you get more than in the middle of the city but it jsut swept right it, subhanAllah. I bet the ones in Saudi are more extreme that in UAE because there is no open water, although Dubai gets it’s share and then you see the ghostly shapes of cars in parkinglots covered in a sheet of dust.
Nice pictures!