Weather forecast: Rain and flash floods expected in the Eastern Province, Riyadh, and 10 other regions
The National Center for Meteorology issued a detailed report on the expected weather conditions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, warning of severe weather fluctuations including moderate to heavy thunderstorms, accompanied by strong winds and hail, starting today, Friday, and continuing through Saturday, February 6th and 7th. These forecasts are part of the ongoing monitoring of weather patterns in the Kingdom during this transitional period of the year.
Climate context and the importance of warnings
This weather system is particularly significant due to its wide geographical scope, covering large parts of the Kingdom's vast regions. Such fluctuations are part of the Arabian Peninsula's climatic pattern during transitional seasons, where air masses interact to form cumulonimbus clouds that can lead to flash floods in valleys and wadis. While these rains play a vital role in replenishing groundwater and vegetation, they also necessitate extreme caution from citizens and residents, especially in low-lying areas and floodplains, to ensure public safety and avoid the dangers associated with sudden weather changes.
Weather details for the eastern and central regions
The center explained that the Eastern Province will be at the heart of the weather system, with moderate to heavy rainfall expected in Hafr Al-Batin, Khafji, Qaryat Al-Ulya, and Al-Nairiyah. Meanwhile, Jubail, Dammam, Khobar, Dhahran, Al-Ahsa, and Al-Udayd will experience light to moderate rain on Saturday. In the Riyadh region , the system will extend to the capital and its surrounding governorates, with heavy rain expected in Afif, Dawadmi, Majmaah, and Zulfi, while light to moderate rain is expected in Riyadh city, Al-Kharj, and the southern governorates.
Forecasts for the northern and western regions
The forecast wasn't limited to the eastern and central regions, but extended to the Qassim region and all its governorates (Buraidah, Unaizah, Ar Rass, etc.) with heavy rainfall. The Hail region by a similar weather pattern, including the city and most of its governorates. In the west, the Madinah region moderate rainfall, becoming heavier in Al Mahd and Wadi Al Fara. Makkah is affected by heavy rain in its highlands of Taif and Maysan, while the Holy City and Jeddah are experiencing light to moderate rain. The forecast also included the Tabuk, Al Jawf, Northern Borders, and Al Baha with varying amounts of rainfall.
Technical standards and safety instructions
In its technical explanation, the National Center of Meteorology defined the criteria for rainfall intensity, noting that heavy rainfall is defined as rainfall amounts ranging from 10 to 50 mm per hour or more, which may be accompanied by downdrafts reaching speeds of up to 60 km/h, potentially leading to dust storms and strong thunderstorms. The center emphasized the importance of monitoring real-time alerts through the "Anwaa" application and official platforms, and adhering to Civil Defense instructions to stay away from water accumulations, valleys, and dams during rainfall to ensure everyone's safety.
