Saturday's weather in Saudi Arabia: Thunderstorms and hail in 11 regions
The National Center for Meteorology announced details of Saturday's weather in Saudi Arabia, warning of significant weather fluctuations including thunderstorms accompanied by hail across large parts of 11 regions. These forecasts are part of the ongoing monitoring of weather conditions to ensure the safety of citizens and residents and to provide necessary guidance for dealing with these conditions.
The volatile weather and Saturday's weather forecast
The Arabian Peninsula, and Saudi Arabia in particular, is characterized by transitional periods between seasons, during which rapid climatic changes occur. At such times of year, cumulonimbus clouds form, leading to rainfall of varying intensity. Saturday's weather pattern a continuation of these historically typical conditions, as moist air masses from over water converge with thermal low-pressure systems, creating ideal conditions for thunderstorms and potentially heavy hail in some elevated and open areas.
Map of areas affected by rain and floods
According to the official statement issued by the Meteorology Department, there remains a high probability of moderate to heavy thunderstorms. These storms are expected to cause flash flooding in valleys and ravines, accompanied by hail. This weather pattern will affect parts of the Eastern Province, the Northern Borders Region, Al-Jawf, Hail, Al-Qassim, Riyadh, Madinah, Makkah, Al-Baha, Asir, and Jazan. Meanwhile, active surface winds will continue to stir up dust and sand, potentially reducing horizontal visibility in parts of these regions, as well as in parts of Tabuk and Al-Jawf.
The impact of weather conditions on daily life and traffic
These weather changes are of great importance and have a direct impact locally. On the one hand, the heavy rainfall contributes to replenishing groundwater reserves and supporting vegetation and the agricultural sector in the Kingdom. On the other hand, these conditions necessitate the utmost caution, especially for users of intercity highways, due to reduced horizontal visibility caused by dust or heavy rain. The relevant authorities and the Civil Defense consistently emphasize the need to stay away from valleys and water bodies during thunderstorms to avoid the dangers of flash floods that can form rapidly and unexpectedly.
Navigation conditions in the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf
Regarding maritime navigation and port operations, the report detailed sea conditions to ensure the safety of fishermen and other seafarers. In the Red Sea, surface winds are westerly to northwesterly in the northern and central parts, and southeasterly to southwesterly in the southern part, with speeds ranging from 13 to 25 km/h. Wave heights range from half a meter to one meter, resulting in calm sea conditions.
In the Arabian Gulf, surface winds are expected to be northwesterly to northerly at speeds of 16-32 km/h, but may exceed 50 km/h with the development of thunderstorms. Wave heights will range from half a meter to one and a half meters, and may exceed two meters during thunderstorms, resulting in slight to moderate sea conditions, becoming rough at times during storms.
