Red alert: Heavy rain expected in Saudi Arabia until Friday
The National Center for Meteorology in Saudi Arabia issued an urgent alert, classified as a "red alert," warning of heavy rainfall across wide areas encompassing 12 different regions of the Kingdom. According to the weather report issued today, Thursday, these severe weather conditions are expected to continue until the early hours of Friday morning, urging citizens and residents to take precautions to avoid the risks associated with this intense rainfall.
This exceptional weather condition is accompanied by very high wind speeds, almost complete lack of horizontal visibility, as well as heavy hail, flash floods and overflowing valleys, and strong thunderstorms that may pose a danger to public safety and property.
Geographic details of heavy rainfall and affected areas
The advanced warning issued by the National Center for Meteorology included a wide range of cities and governorates in various regions of the Kingdom, and the expected rainfall map is distributed as follows:
- Riyadh: Al-Zulfi, Al-Ghat, Al-Majma’ah, Shaqra, Al-Dawadmi, Al-Rayn, Al-Quway’iyah, and Afif.
- Makkah Al-Mukarramah: Turbah, Ranyah, Al-Khurmah, Al-Muwayh, and Al-Ardiyat.
- Medina: Al-Hanakiya and Al-Mahd.
- Jazan: Al-Harth, Al-Dayer, Al-Raith, Al-Ardah, Al-Aydabi, Fifa, and Haroub.
- Al-Baha: Al-Hujrah, Al-Makhwah, Far’ah Ghamid Al-Zanad, Qalwah, Al-Baha, Al-Aqiq, Al-Qura, Al-Mandaq, Baljurashi, and Bani Hassan.
- Asir: Al-Harjah, Al-Rabou’ah, Al-Farsha, Sarat Abidah, Dhahran Al-Janoub, Al-Namas, Balqarn, Tanomah, Al-Majardah, Bariq, Abha, Ahad Rafidah, and Khamis Mushait.
- Tabuk: Tayma and Tabuk.
- Al-Jawf: Dumat Al-Jandal, Sakaka, Al-Qurayyat, and Tabarjal.
- Najran: Badr Al-Janoub.
- Northern border: Tarif.
- Hail: Al-Hait, Al-Sulaimi, Al-Shamli, Al-Ghazala, Hail, Muwaqq, Al-Shanan, Baqaa, and Samira.
- Al-Qassim: Abanat, Al-Khabra, Ar-Rass, Al-Fawarah, An-Nabhania, Riyadh Al-Khabra, Dhariyah, Uqlat As-Suqur, Al-Asyah, Al-Badai, Al-Bukayriyah, At-Thamiriya, Ash-Shamasiyah, Al-Ammar, Al-Mudhnib, Buraydah, Unayzah, and Uyun Al-Jawa.
Eastern Province weather and its expected effects
In a related development, the National Center for Meteorology warned that parts of the Eastern Province will be affected by light rain until 11:00 PM this Thursday. This warning includes Al-Khafji, Al-Nu'ayriyah, and Qaryat Al-Ulya, where the rain is expected to be accompanied by active winds, reduced horizontal visibility, and scattered thunderstorms.
Historical background of the rainy seasons in the Kingdom
These weather fluctuations are part of the seasonal climate patterns experienced in the Arabian Peninsula during seasonal transitions. Historically, Saudi Arabia has witnessed varying intensities of rainfall, known locally by specific seasonal names. Moist winds from the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf, when combined with cold air masses from the north, lead to the formation of massive cumulonimbus clouds, resulting in heavy rainfall and flash floods in dry valleys. Over the years, the Kingdom has worked to develop monitoring and early warning systems to effectively manage these events and minimize human and material losses.
Importance and expected impacts on infrastructure and safety
The importance of these weather warnings extends beyond mere daily alerts, as they directly impact transportation and daily activities both locally and regionally. Locally, security and civil defense forces mobilize their resources to secure highways and manage traffic in areas affected by flash floods. In some cases, in-person classes are suspended and switched to remote learning to ensure the safety of students and staff. Regionally and internationally, meteorological centers monitor these conditions to study climate changes in the region and exchange weather data, which contributes to improving the accuracy of weather forecasts in neighboring Gulf countries, thus enhancing the region's resilience in the face of extreme weather events.
