Rainfall amounts in the Kingdom: Asir leads, and the Eastern Province records 20.6 mm
Several regions in Saudi Arabia experienced significant weather fluctuations, with the latest report from the National Center for Meteorology revealing rainfall amounts across the Kingdom over the past 24 hours. This rainfall is part of a widespread weather system affecting various parts of the country, reflecting the diverse climate of Saudi Arabia.
Details of rainfall amounts in the Kingdom, with the Asir region leading the way
Official weather statistics covering the period from Saturday morning to Sunday morning showed that the Asir region experienced the heaviest rainfall. The Abha Airport station recorded the highest amount of rain at 65.6 mm, out of 13 stations operating in the area. The Riyadh region came in second, with the King Khalid Reserve station recording 42.2 mm out of 12 stations, reflecting the widespread nature of the rainfall across the central part of the country.
In the Eastern Province, the Dammam station in the Al-Qadisiyah district recorded a significant rainfall of 20.6 mm. Rainfall extended to other areas as well, with the Al-Darb station in the Jazan region recording 11.2 mm, the Khubash station in Najran recording 1.8 mm, and the Al-Baher station in the Al-Baha region recording 0.8 mm. Rainfall in the Makkah and Qassim regions was minimal, not exceeding 0.2 mm at the Ranyah and Al-Nabhaniah stations, respectively.
Climatic context: The nature of rainfall in Saudi Arabia
To understand the significance of these figures, one must consider the broader context and historical climate of the Arabian Peninsula. Historically, the southwestern highlands, such as the Asir and Jazan regions, have been among the wettest areas in Saudi Arabia. This is due to their high mountainous terrain (the Sarawat Mountains), which play a crucial role in condensing moisture coming from the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea, resulting in frequent and heavy rainfall.
In contrast, the central and eastern regions, such as Riyadh and Dammam, are characterized by a dry desert climate with scarce rainfall throughout the year. However, during transitional periods and the winter and spring seasons, these areas experience atmospheric instability resulting from the convergence of low-pressure systems originating from the Mediterranean basin with humid air masses, which explains the significant rainfall recorded in these regions, as indicated in the recent report.
Expected effects of the weather conditions locally and regionally
These rainfalls are of great importance and have wide-ranging positive effects. Locally, the heavy rains contribute to replenishing groundwater reservoirs and raising water levels in dams, which is vital for supporting the agricultural sector, particularly in rural and agricultural areas. These rains also play a crucial role in the flourishing of spring vegetation, which positively impacts domestic tourism as citizens and residents flock to parks and nature reserves to enjoy the natural surroundings.
On the other hand, on a regional and environmental level, these continuous rainfall events support the goals of the Saudi Green Initiative through the natural irrigation of vast areas, which helps in combating desertification and reducing the severity of dust storms, and thus improving the overall air quality.
The National Center of Meteorology confirmed that these accurate readings are part of ongoing climate monitoring through a network of automated monitoring stations spread across the country. This continuous monitoring aims to accurately document weather changes, enhance the preparedness of relevant authorities to deal with any emergencies, and raise public awareness of the need to follow safety guidelines during rainfall.
