Saudi Arabia's weather today: Hail is the coldest, with thunderstorms in Riyadh and the Eastern Province
Saudi Arabia experienced a significant drop in temperatures on Thursday, January 29th, with Hail recording the lowest minimum temperature at 3 degrees Celsius, reflecting the peak of the cold wave affecting the northern and central regions. Sakaka recorded 5 degrees Celsius, followed by Tarif at 6 degrees. Dawadmi, Qurayyat, Rafha, and Buraidah all recorded 7 degrees Celsius, while Arar registered 8 degrees.
Details of the National Center for Meteorology report
The National Center for Meteorology issued its daily weather report for Saudi Arabia , indicating the continuation of the unstable weather conditions typical of this time of year. The forecast, God willing, indicates continued chances of thunderstorms accompanied by hail, along with active surface winds that may reduce horizontal visibility. This weather pattern will affect large parts of the Eastern Province, Riyadh, Makkah, Al-Baha, Asir, and Jazan.
Climate context and the impact of cold waves
These temperature drops are part of the typical winter weather pattern in the Kingdom, where the northern and northwestern regions are usually affected by cold air masses coming from the north. This makes cities like Hail, Tarif, and Arar more susceptible to lower temperatures compared to other areas. This situation is of particular concern to travelers and highway users, given the possibility of fog formation during the night and early morning hours, especially in the Al-Jawf and Northern Borders regions, in addition to the impact of dust-raising winds.
Sea conditions and maritime navigation
Regarding the state of the Red Sea, the report explained that surface winds will be northwesterly to northerly in the northern and central parts at a speed of up to 30 km/h, while they will be southeasterly to easterly in the southern part, and their speed may reach 50 km/h with the formation of thunderclouds, which will lead to a rise in the waves to sometimes reach two and a half meters, which calls for caution for seafarers and fishermen.
In the Arabian Gulf, the winds shift from southeasterly to northwesterly at night, with speeds that may reach 50 km/h in the northern part, coinciding with rain-bearing thunderclouds, making the sea state rough in those parts, while it is light to moderate in the central and southern parts.
Experts and relevant authorities are calling on citizens and residents to follow continuous updates on the weather situation and to adhere to safety instructions while driving in rainy or dusty conditions to ensure everyone's safety.
