Dusty weather sweeps across Egypt, reducing road visibility

Ahram Online , Monday 12 Jan 2026

Dusty conditions have swept across several parts of Egypt, including the capital Cairo, since Monday afternoon, reducing visibility on roads as the country experiences a bout of unstable weather.

File Photo: cars on a high way road near Cairo during a sandstorm. Al-Ahram

The conditions affected Greater Cairo, Lower Egypt, the North Coast and the Suez Canal region, with airborne sand and dust driven by strong winds, the Egyptian Meteorological Authority (EMA) said in a statement.

The EMA added that wind speeds of between 40 and 60km/h have been stirring up local sand and carrying dust from the Western Desert, causing horizontal visibility to drop sharply in many areas.

In the worst-hit locations, visibility has fallen to less than 500 metres.

The EMA warned that poor visibility is expected to continue across Greater Cairo, the Nile Delta, the North Coast, the Suez Canal cities, Sinai and Upper Egypt.

Northern parts of the country are also facing unstable weather conditions, with a chance of moderate to occasionally heavy rainfall along the northwestern coast and in parts of the northern Nile Delta.

The EMA said the weather has disrupted maritime navigation in the Mediterranean Sea, with rough conditions expected to persist in the coming hours.

The EMA has issued safety advice, urging drivers to take extra care on the roads and warning residents to avoid standing near unstable buildings, billboards or trees, as strong winds increase the risk of accidents.