The Meteorology Department issues a red alert for heavy rain in 5 regions
The National Center for Meteorology in Saudi Arabia, in its latest periodic report, announced an exceptional weather condition requiring attention, issuing a red alert for heavy rains affecting large parts of five major regions. This severe weather is expected to continue until 11:00 PM this Thursday, requiring citizens and residents to exercise extreme caution. The rains will be accompanied by severe weather phenomena, including strong winds leading to near-zero horizontal visibility, heavy hail, flash floods in valleys and ravines, and successive thunderstorms.
Details of the red alert issued for heavy rains and the affected areas
The official weather report identified the geographical area covered by the red alert for heavy rain, with warnings concentrated on five key regions. In the Eastern Province, the alert includes the cities of Khafji, Nairyah, and Qaryat Al-Ulya. In the Riyadh region, the affected governorates are Thadiq, Huraymila, Rumah, Dhurma, Marat, Ad-Diriyah, Riyadh (the capital), Ad-Dawadimi, Ar-Rayn, Al-Quway'iyah, Afif, Az-Zulfi, Al-Ghat, Al-Majma'ah, and Shaqra.
In the Qassim region, the weather warning extends to Al-Asyah, Al-Badai, Al-Bukayriyah, Al-Thamirah, Al-Shamasiyah, Al-Ammar, Al-Mudhnib, Buraydah, Unayzah, Uyun Al-Jawa, Abanat, Al-Khabra, Ar-Rass, Al-Fawarah, An-Nabhaniah, Riyadh Al-Khabra, Dhariyah, and Uqlat As-Suqur. Warnings also cover Tayma Governorate in the Tabuk region, while the Hail region is affected in Ash-Shanan, Baqaa, Samira, Al-Hait, As-Sulaimi, Ash-Shamli, Al-Ghazalah, Hail city, and Muwaqq.
Climate change and the history of weather events in the Kingdom
These weather developments are part of a recurring climatic pattern experienced by the Arabian Peninsula during the transitional periods between seasons. Historically, Saudi Arabia is known for its arid desert climate, but recent decades have witnessed a significant increase in the frequency of extreme rainfall events, which meteorologists attribute to global climate change. Relevant authorities, primarily the National Center of Meteorology, have worked to develop an early warning system to address these changes. The "red alert" is the highest level of warning and is issued only when severe weather phenomena are imminent, reflecting the significant advancements in the accuracy of weather monitoring and climate forecasting in the Kingdom to protect lives and property.
Expected impacts on infrastructure and daily life
This weather event is of great importance and has far-reaching effects at both the local and regional levels. Locally, the large amounts of rainfall in a short period lead to flash floods, posing temporary challenges to drainage networks and road infrastructure, and requiring the mobilization of civil defense teams and municipal authorities to ensure the smooth flow of traffic and the safety of individuals. On the other hand, this heavy rainfall has a significant positive impact on the agricultural sector, contributing to the irrigation of vast areas of land and replenishing the strategic groundwater reserves upon which the Kingdom heavily relies, thus supporting long-term environmental and water sustainability.
Comprehensive weather forecast for Thursday
In addition to the areas already under severe weather warnings, the National Center for Meteorology forecasts in its comprehensive weather report for Thursday that the chance of moderate to heavy thunderstorms will continue in other regions. These storms may also lead to flash floods and be accompanied by hail and strong winds that will stir up dust and reduce horizontal visibility in parts of the Northern Borders, Al-Jawf, Madinah, and Makkah regions.
In contrast, parts of Al-Baha, Asir, Jazan, and Najran regions are experiencing light to moderate rainfall. The report also warned of the possibility of dense fog forming during the night and early morning hours in parts of the highlands and the aforementioned regions, requiring drivers to exercise extreme caution while driving at those times.
