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File: aabva_05.txtDESERT STORM 18 January 1991 General Weather. High pressure dominated central Saudi Arabia, but a low-pressure system and an accompanying front raced across northwestern Saudi Arabia, most of Iraq, and Kuwait. The system became quasi-stationary along a line running from the northern Red sea to Kuwait and then to southeastern Iraq. This line also marked the subtropical Jet stream axis. Another front moved across northern Iraq during the evening. Area of Interest. Northern Iraq's 15,000-foot ceiling lowered to 8,000 feet through the morning and became scattered by 1200Z. A line of clouds associated with a weak front moved across northern Iraq In the evening, bringing 5,000-foot ceiling. In western Iraq and northwestern Saudi Arabia 10,000 foot ceilings lowered rapidly to 4,000 feet; isolated areas of rain and ground fog lowered visibilities to 4,800 meters. Skies cleared over western Iraq by 1200Z and ceiling northwestern Saudi Arabia rose to 20,000 feet. Clouds with 4,000 foot bases remained throughout the day from the Red Sea at Jeddah into north-central and north- eastern Saudi Arabia, where rain fell in the afternoon. Visibilities were 3,200 meters in rain and haze, with fog after sunset. In the rest of the area, skies were clear or high scattered. Occasional periods of blowing dust reduced visibilities to 4,800 meters in central Saudi Arabia. Area of Intense Interest. The entire area was covered by clouds with bases of 10,000-15,000 feet-see Figure 3-3. These quickly lowered 3,000 feet and, in some places, to as low as 1,500 feet. The western part of the area began peeing In the afternoon, but 200-foot ceiling 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. Winds were east to southeastern at 5-15 knots. 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 1,600 meters at the end of the day. High temperatures were 16-22� C; lows, 08-13� C. 3-5
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