Saudi Arabia weather today: Thunderstorms and flash floods in 12 regions

The National Center for Meteorology in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia issued its daily report on the expected weather conditions for this Friday, as the Kingdom’s atmosphere is witnessing severe weather fluctuations including moderate to heavy thunderstorms, which calls for caution and vigilance on the part of citizens and residents.

Weather details and affected areas

According to the official statement issued by the Meteorology Department, the chance of thunderstorms accompanied by hail and strong winds that stir up dust and sand remains. This weather condition may lead to flash floods in valleys and ravines, as well as reduced or even zero horizontal visibility at times.

The center identified the areas that will experience the heaviest rainfall as parts of Al-Baha, Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh, Qassim, Hail, the Northern Borders, and the Eastern Province . Meanwhile, light to moderate rain is expected in parts of Al-Jawf, Tabuk, Asir, and Jazan.

The importance of warnings and safety measures

These forecasts come as authorities closely monitor the safety of lives and property, as such heavy rainfall is a major cause of flash floods that can pose a danger to hikers, especially on weekends. The General Directorate of Civil Defense typically emphasizes the need to stay away from floodplains and low-lying areas in such conditions, and to avoid crossing wadis regardless of the water level, in order to ensure public safety.

This report reflects the importance of the early warning system that the Kingdom follows to monitor weather fluctuations, which contributes to raising the readiness of service and security agencies to deal with any emergency resulting from the rainy conditions, whether on highways that may witness landslides or in residential areas.

State of the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf

Regarding the marine conditions, the report detailed the movement of waves and winds as follows:

• The Red Sea: Northwesterly to northerly surface winds are expected in the northern and central parts, while southeasterly to southwesterly winds are expected in the southern part. Wind speeds will range from 15 to 35 km/h, potentially exceeding 50 km/h with the formation of thunderstorms and rain. Wave heights are expected to range from half a meter to one and a half meters, reaching over two meters in the central and southern parts, resulting in rough sea conditions during thunderstorms.
• Arabian Gulf: Surface winds will be northwesterly to northeasterly, shifting to southeasterly at night, with speeds ranging from 12 to 30 km/h. Wave height will be slight to moderate, ranging from half a meter to one meter.

The relevant authorities urge everyone to follow the continuous updates on the weather situation through official channels and weather applications to ensure safe planning for their movements during the coming hours.