Saudi Arabia records its coldest temperatures in 40 years... Hail leads the way
The National Center for Meteorology issued a comprehensive statistical report on Thursday highlighting the climate records of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia over the past four decades, specifically from 1985 to 2025. The report revealed interesting data regarding the lowest recorded temperatures and frost occurrences in various regions during the winter months (December, January, and February), reflecting the significant climatic variations across the Kingdom's geography.
Hail sets a record for coldest temperatures
Documented climate data shows that the city of Hail holds the record for the lowest temperature recorded in the Kingdom during the study period, with temperatures dropping to -10 degrees Celsius on January 16, 2008. This figure is a significant indicator of the severity of polar waves that can affect the northern and central regions of the Kingdom during certain exceptional seasons.
Hail was not the only city on the list of extremely cold cities. Al-Qurayyat in the Al-Jawf region came in second, recording -9 degrees Celsius in the same month of 2008. It was followed by Tarif in the Northern Borders region at -8 degrees Celsius, and Sakaka at -7 degrees Celsius in February 1989. The list also included other cities that recorded very low temperatures, such as Arar (-6.3 degrees Celsius), Rafha (-5.8 degrees Celsius), and even the capital, Riyadh, which recorded -5.4 degrees Celsius, confirming that frost waves are not limited to border regions.
2008... An exceptional winter in memory
The report indicated that 2008 marked a turning point in Saudi Arabia's climate record, ranking as one of the coldest years ever recorded in numerous cities, including Hail, Riyadh, Buraidah, Qassim, and Tabuk. This exceptional year reflects the region's exposure to extremely cold polar air masses, which explains the record-breaking temperatures that remained unbroken for many years.
Tarif... the frost capital of the Kingdom
Regarding the number of frost days, the northern regions were undisputedly the most affected. The report revealed that the city of Tarif in the Northern Borders region is the most frost-prone, recording 720 frost days over the past forty years. Al-Qurayyat came in second with 588 days, followed by Hail with 339 days. These figures reflect the geographical nature of these areas and their altitude, which makes them more susceptible to surface freezing during the long winter nights.
The importance of climate documentation for future planning
The importance of this report issued by the National Center for Meteorology extends far beyond simply recording figures; it serves as a fundamental database to support research and scientific studies. This documented data assists stakeholders in urban planning, the agricultural sector in protecting crops from frost, and the energy sector in estimating expected heating loads. It also contributes to raising public awareness of the diverse climatic characteristics of the Kingdom's regions, thus enhancing preparedness for dealing with severe weather conditions in the future.
