Temperature drop eases power load, stabilizes grid amid dust storms

A notable decrease in temperatures yesterday, which fell to 42°C, brought welcome relief to Kuwait’s electricity network. The incident led to a significant drop in the national power load index, which reached 14,187 megawatts — well below the 17,000-megawatt levels recorded during recent hotter days.

MEW sources confirmed this easing of demand helped reduce pressure on power generators and contributed to greater stability in the electrical grid, particularly important during the high-consumption summer months, reports Al-Jarida daily.

The meteorological conditions played a key role in this development. The country experienced moderate to strong northwesterly winds, with speeds ranging between 25 and 60 kilometers per hour. These winds stirred up dust storms, leading to a noticeable reduction in horizontal visibility, which dropped to less than 1,000 meters in some open areas.

Director of the Meteorology Department, Al-Dhirar Al-Ali, forecast that the strong winds will continue today, with intermittent periods of dust affecting visibility and air quality. However, he noted that a relative calm in wind activity is expected by Thursday afternoon.

Kuwait remains under the influence of a surface low-pressure system, accompanied by a hot and dry air mass. While the drop in temperature has temporarily eased the strain on infrastructure, weather officials and energy authorities continue to monitor conditions closely to ensure power grid resilience throughout the peak summer season.