The Saudi Meteorology Department announces its readiness for the Ramadan season of 1447 AH

The National Center for Meteorology in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announced the completion of all its operational and technical preparations to receive the holy month of Ramadan for the year 1447 AH, through the launch of a comprehensive strategic plan aimed at providing the most accurate climate information to serve the guests of God and visitors to the Two Holy Mosques.

Enhancing geographic and technical coverage

As part of the Kingdom's commitment to the safety of pilgrims and visitors, the new plan focuses on intensifying geographical coverage in the Makkah and Madinah regions, with particular emphasis on the Two Holy Mosques, the holy sites, and the highway network leading to them. This step aims to ensure the continuous flow of weather data around the clock, contributing to improved monitoring and forecasting of potential weather phenomena before they occur, thus supporting security and service agencies in making appropriate field decisions.

Advanced technologies to serve the pilgrims

The center's CEO, Dr. Ayman bin Salem Ghulam, explained that the center has harnessed the latest global technologies to ensure the accuracy of information, including:

• A vast network of weather radars and satellite images updated in real time.
• Relying on the “Saudi Numerical Model” for weather forecasts, which represents a qualitative leap in the accuracy of local forecasts.
• Deployment of automatic stations and mobile observatories operated by a select group of qualified national personnel.

Ghulam also pointed out that the plan includes direct technical linking with government smart applications such as “Nusk” and “Tawakkalna”, in addition to the center’s “Anwaa” application, to enable beneficiaries to view the current weather conditions and future forecasts for the next ten days with ease and convenience.

The importance of weather monitoring during religious seasons

Weather monitoring during Ramadan takes on significant strategic importance due to the high population density in Mecca and Medina. Accurate forecasts play a crucial role in crowd management, especially in cases of expected heavy rain, dust storms that could reduce visibility, or high temperatures requiring special medical preparations. These efforts align with the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 to provide the highest quality services to pilgrims and facilitate their spiritual journey.

Airport and air navigation readiness

The plan also addressed air navigation, raising the level of preparedness at the center's observatories across the Kingdom's airports to handle the anticipated increase in flights during the holy month. This aims to ensure air navigation safety and provide pilots and air traffic control with the most accurate weather data to guarantee smooth air traffic flow.

The center concluded by emphasizing the use of 14 diverse media platforms to ensure the rapid delivery of early warnings and daily reports to the public and relevant authorities, in order to promote the principle of preventive safety and community awareness.