The Meteorology Department issues a red alert for heavy rain in 5 regions
The National Center for Meteorology in Saudi Arabia issued an urgent report with a red alert for heavy rain expected across large parts of five major regions on Monday. This warning comes as part of ongoing monitoring of the country's unstable weather conditions. The center cautioned that the rain will be accompanied by high-speed winds, leading to near-zero horizontal visibility, as well as hail, flash floods in valleys and ravines, and severe thunderstorms, requiring citizens and residents to exercise extreme caution.
The most prominent areas included in the red alert for heavy rain
The National Center for Meteorology has precisely identified the geographical locations that will be affected by this severe weather system. In the Eastern Province, warnings are concentrated on Hafr Al-Batin, Al-Khafji, Al-Nairiyah, and Qaryat Al-Ulya. In the Riyadh region, the affected areas include Al-Zulfi, Al-Ghat, Al-Majma'ah, Thadiq, Shaqra, Marat, Al-Dawadmi, and Afif. In the southwest of the Kingdom, specifically the Asir region, Abha, Ahad Rafidah, Khamis Mushait, Al-Majardah, and Bariq will be affected. The impact also extends northward to include Al-Qurayyat and Tabuk in the Al-Jawf region, and the city of Tarif in the Northern Borders region.
Climate changes in the Arabian Peninsula
These sharp weather changes are part of a broader climate pattern that Saudi Arabia and the Arabian Peninsula have been experiencing in recent years. Historically, the region has been known for its arid desert climate, but recent climate records indicate a significant increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme rainfall events, particularly during seasonal transitions. Meteorologists attribute this shift to the expansion of low-pressure systems and the interaction of moist air masses from the Arabian Sea and the Red Sea with cold upper-level currents, creating ideal conditions for the formation of dense cumulonimbus clouds that release their water loads with unusual intensity.
Weather conditions impact infrastructure and public safety
These heavy rainfalls have dual impacts at both the local and regional levels. On the one hand, flash floods and reduced visibility pose a significant challenge to traffic and movement between cities and governorates, necessitating the mobilization of relevant authorities such as civil defense and traffic departments to ensure the safety of lives and property, and to issue continuous warnings urging people to stay away from valleys and floodplains. On the other hand, these rains also have a strategic positive dimension, as they contribute significantly to replenishing groundwater reservoirs, raising water levels in dams, revitalizing vegetation, and supporting the agricultural sector, which is heavily reliant on the rainy season.
Weather forecast for Monday across the Kingdom
In its comprehensive weather report for today, the National Center for Meteorology forecasts continued moderate to heavy thunderstorms, potentially leading to flash floods and hail in parts of Al-Jawf, the Northern Borders, the Eastern Province, Riyadh, Al-Qassim, Makkah, Al-Baha, Asir, Jazan, and Najran. Simultaneously, the weather fluctuations will not be limited to rain, but will also include significant surface wind activity that will stir up dust and sand, negatively impacting horizontal visibility in parts of these regions. The dust will also affect parts of Tabuk, Hail, and Madinah, requiring special caution from highway users and those with respiratory conditions.
