Saudi Arabia weather today: Heavy rain, floods, and weather warnings

The National Center for Meteorology, revealed details of Saudi Arabia's weather for Tuesday, predicting continued unstable weather conditions across most regions of the Kingdom. The report forecasts moderate to heavy thunderstorms, potentially leading to flash floods in valleys and ravines, accompanied by hail and strong winds that may stir up dust and sand, necessitating caution.

Rainfall map and affected areas

The center explained that the heavy rainfall will be concentrated in parts of the Makkah, Madinah, Qassim, Hail, Northern Borders, and Al-Jawf , with its effects extending to the northern parts of the Eastern Province. This weather system is part of a wave of typical weather disturbances at this time of year, as the Kingdom's atmosphere is affected by low-pressure systems that contribute to the formation of cumulonimbus clouds and thunderstorms.

In contrast, light to moderate rain is expected in parts of the Riyadh and Tabuk , as well as in parts of the Al-Baha region, with a high probability of dense fog that may limit horizontal visibility in the early morning and late night hours in those areas and highlands.

State of the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf

Regarding the maritime situation, the report noted a disturbance in wave movement, specifically in the Red Sea:

• Surface winds: Westerly to northwesterly at speeds of up to more than 60 km/h with thunderstorms over the northern and central parts.
• Wave height: It ranges from one and a half meters to two and a half meters, and may exceed that with thunderstorms, making the sea state turbulent and unstable.

As for the Arabian Gulf, the winds will be southeasterly to southerly at a moderate speed, and the wave height will be from half a meter to one and a half meters, making the sea light to moderately rough.

Advanced alerts for Riyadh and the Eastern Province

The early warning system issued special alerts for parts of the Eastern Province and Riyadh region, including the governorates of Hafr Al-Batin, Al-Zulfi, Al-Ghat, and Al-Majma'ah. These alerts remain in effect until 11:00 AM, warning of strong winds, reduced visibility, hail, flash floods, and thunderstorms.

The center also warned of dust storms and active winds that will reduce horizontal visibility (3-5 km) in Dawadmi, Al-Rayn, Al-Quway'iyah and Afif in the Riyadh region, and will continue until 5 pm.

The importance of following weather forecasts and safety guidelines

These reports are of paramount importance given the direct impact of extreme weather events on daily life and road safety. Relevant authorities in the Kingdom, in coordination with the National Center for Meteorology, are working to enhance preparedness to address the risks of flash floods and water accumulation. Experts consistently advise staying away from floodplains and valleys during such events and adhering to Civil Defense instructions, especially in open areas and on highways that may experience severely reduced visibility or landslides due to rain.