Arafat Day weather forecast: Meteorological and artificial intelligence prepared
The National Center for Meteorology in Saudi Arabia has enhanced its technical, technological, and operational capabilities to provide the most accurate weather forecast for the Day of Arafah, through an integrated system that utilizes the latest global technologies. This early preparation aims to achieve the highest levels of accuracy and readiness, and to provide the necessary resources that directly contribute to serving the pilgrims of the Holy House of God and facilitating their performance of the rituals safely and peacefully, especially in light of the changing weather conditions that require constant and real-time monitoring.
Development of weather monitoring services during the Hajj season
Historically, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has placed great importance on the safety of pilgrims since its founding. Meteorological services during the Hajj season have undergone a radical transformation over the decades; from relying on manual readings and simple estimations in the past, they have evolved into a sophisticated digital system. This historical development reflects the Kingdom's commitment to harnessing all available resources to address climatic challenges, especially since the Hajj season sometimes coincides with the extremely hot summer months, making accurate monitoring an absolute necessity, not merely a routine procedure.
Strategic dimensions to ensure the safety of pilgrims
The impact of accurate weather monitoring extends far beyond the local level, encompassing crucial regional and international dimensions. Locally, this data enables security, health, and regulatory authorities to make proactive decisions, such as deploying ambulance teams and distributing cooling stations and water misting systems in the holy sites. Internationally, the successful management of millions of pilgrims under harsh weather conditions sends reassuring messages to governments and people across the Muslim world, highlighting the Kingdom's efficiency and exceptional capabilities in managing crises and major events with high professionalism.
The role of modern technologies in forecasting the weather on the Day of Arafah
In a related context, Dr. Turki Habibullah, the General Supervisor of Hajj and Umrah Operations at the Center, explained that the Center monitors the weather conditions in Arafat through a wide network of modern technologies. This network includes advanced weather radars, high-resolution satellite imagery, automated and manned stations, as well as mobile stations for measuring the upper atmosphere. Artificial intelligence technologies have been integrated into the real-time forecasting system to ensure the accuracy of the outputs and to meet the immediate needs of the agencies operating in the field.
Network of weather stations in the holy sites
Dr. Habibullah added that the monitoring network includes five strategic weather stations distributed between Arafat and Muzdalifah. This network comprises a semi-automated station, a manned station, an automated station in Wadi Arnah in Arafat, an automated station in the Holy Sanctuary (Mash'ar al-Haram), and a mobile automated station in Muzdalifah. Arafat is expected to experience a maximum temperature of 45 degrees Celsius, with humidity reaching up to 50%, and active northerly to northeasterly winds reaching speeds of up to 36 km/h, while the sky will be partly cloudy. Pilgrims are advised to adhere to preventive guidelines to avoid heat stress.
