Rain in Medina: Red alert and today's weather forecast
The National Center for Meteorology in Saudi Arabia issued a red alert for the Madinah region on Sunday, warning of unstable weather conditions characterized by heavy rainfall. The center explained that these conditions began affecting the region and will continue until 11:00 PM, urging citizens, residents, and visitors to the holy city to take precautions.
Weather details in Medina
According to the weather report, the current weather conditions in Medina are not limited to rainfall, but are accompanied by several severe weather phenomena. These include high-speed winds that may stir up dust and sand, and cause near-zero visibility on highways and open roads. The center also warned of hail, flash floods in valleys and ravines, and strong thunderstorms.
Weather forecast for Mecca and other regions
In a related development, the holy city of Mecca was not spared from these weather fluctuations, as the National Center for Meteorology issued a warning of light rain in Mecca, expected to continue until 7:00 PM today. This warning was part of a comprehensive weather report for the Kingdom, which also indicated continued chances of heavy thunderstorms accompanied by hail and strong winds across large parts of the Northern Borders, Al-Jawf, Tabuk, and Hail regions, as well as the northern parts of the Mecca region.
The importance of the red alert and safety procedures
The "Red Alert" is the highest level of alert in the National Center of Meteorology's automated early warning system. It signifies that the expected weather phenomena are severe and require immediate action, including staying away from danger zones. In such cases, the General Directorate of Civil Defense typically advises people to remain in safe locations, avoid valleys and flood channels, refrain from crossing valleys while they are flowing, and stay away from low-lying areas and water accumulations.
Geographical and climatic context
The Medina region and the Hejaz region in general have a geography that makes them prone to the rapid formation of flash floods during heavy rainfall, due to the surrounding mountains and valleys. These warnings are particularly important given the population density and the movement of visitors and pilgrims heading to the Prophet's Mosque. Relevant authorities in the Kingdom, including municipalities, traffic departments, and civil defense, are working in close coordination during these rainy periods to ensure smooth traffic flow, the safety of lives and property, and to activate emergency plans to address potential water accumulation.
