Yellow alert: Cold wave and frost in 6 regions of Saudi Arabia

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The National Center for Meteorology issued an important weather alert classified as a "yellow alert," warning that large parts of the Kingdom will be affected by a strong cold wave, coinciding with a noticeable drop in temperatures and high chances of frost formation, during the early morning hours of Thursday.

Weather details and timing

The weather report indicated that this weather phenomenon begins at 1:00 AM and continues until 8:00 AM, a period during which temperatures reach their lowest levels. Forecasts indicate that minimum temperatures will drop to between 0°C and -3°C, necessitating caution, especially for those living in open areas and along highways.

Regions and cities affected by the cold wave

The warning covered parts of 6 administrative regions, where frost and severe cold are expected to cover the following cities and governorates:

Eastern Region: Includes Hafr Al-Batin and Qaryat Al-Ulya.
Riyadh region: The governorates of Thadiq, Huraymila, Rumah, Zulfi, Ghat, Majmaah and Shaqra are affected.
Northern borders: include Al-Uwaiqilah, Rafha, Tarif, and Arar.
Al-Qassim region: It includes Al-Asyah, Al-Thamiriyah, Al-Shamasiyah, Al-Ammar, Al-Mudhnib, Buraydah, Unayzah, and Uyun Al-Jawa.
Hail region: It includes Al-Shanan, Baqaa, and the city of Hail.
Al-Jawf region: Both Dumat Al-Jandal and Sakaka are affected.

Winter climate context in the Kingdom

This cold wave is part of the natural characteristics of the winter climate in the northern and central regions of Saudi Arabia. At this time of year, the Kingdom is exposed to cold polar air masses coming from the north, leading to a sharp drop in temperatures, especially at night and dawn. The northern regions (such as the Northern Borders, Al-Jawf, and Hail) are the most susceptible to these cold waves due to their geographical location and topography.

The importance of the warning and its expected effects

The "yellow alert" serves as a warning to be aware of the potential impact of the weather on daily activities. This sharp drop in temperature is expected to have multiple effects:

On the health level: The need to wear heavy winter clothes increases to avoid colds and winter illnesses, especially for children and the elderly.
On the agricultural level: Frost poses a threat to agricultural crops in agricultural areas such as Qassim and Hail, which requires farmers to take preventive measures to protect their crops from damage.
Public safety: In such weather conditions, the Civil Defense and relevant authorities usually advise caution when using various heating methods (coal, kerosene, or electricity) to ensure good ventilation and avoid suffocation or fire incidents, in addition to driving carefully in case of frost on the roads.