Thunderstorms of varying intensity are expected today, Thursday, in Saudi Arabia | Kingdom Weather

The National Center for Meteorology announced in its daily report that thunderstorms of varying intensity today, Thursday, across several regions of Saudi Arabia. This forecast is part of ongoing weather monitoring, and these storms are expected to cause flash floods, accompanied by hail and strong winds that may stir up dust and sand, necessitating caution from citizens and residents.

Details of varying intensity thunderstorms across the Kingdom's regions

The report indicated that the impact of thunderstorms of varying intensity will be concentrated primarily on parts of the Al-Baha, Asir, Jazan, and Najran regions, extending to the southern parts of the Makkah highlands. Conversely, light to moderate rainfall is expected in scattered areas of the Eastern Province, Riyadh, Qassim, Hail, and the Northern Borders region, reflecting the diverse weather patterns across the Kingdom's vast geographical area.

Climatic importance and the impact of weather fluctuations on the local environment

Historically, Saudi Arabia experiences sharp weather fluctuations during seasonal transitions, with the mountainous terrain of the southwestern region playing a vital role in the formation of cumulonimbus clouds. These climatic phenomena are not new; rather, they are part of the natural cycle that contributes to groundwater replenishment. Locally, this event is of great importance to the agricultural sector, particularly in regions like Jazan and Asir, which rely heavily on seasonal rainfall to irrigate their terraced fields. The filling of dams also enhances the Kingdom's regional water security. Structurally, these changes present challenges that necessitate the mobilization of relevant authorities to ensure the safety of infrastructure and mitigate the damage caused by flash floods, a recurring feature of the region's climatic history.

Red alert: Severe warnings for the Al-Baha, Asir, and Jazan regions

The National Center for Meteorology issued a "red alert" warning of very heavy rainfall in parts of three major regions today, Thursday: Al-Baha, Asir, and Abha. This severe weather phenomenon will begin at noon and continue until 9:00 PM in some areas, and until 11:00 PM in others. The weather will be accompanied by high-speed winds, near-zero visibility, heavy hail, flash floods, and frequent thunderstorms.

Places covered by the warning

• Al-Baha region: Al-Aqiq, Al-Qura, Al-Baha, Al-Mandaq, Baljurashi, and Bani Hassan.
• Asir region: Al-Amwah, Al-Arin, Bisha, Tathlith, Tarib, Al-Namas, Balqarn, Tanomah, Al-Harjah, Al-Rabou’ah, Al-Farshah, Sarat Abidah, Dhahran Al-Janoub, Abha, Ahad Rafidah, and Khamis Mushait.
• Jazan region: Al-Harth, Al-Dayer, Al-Raith, Al-Ardah, Al-Aydabi, Fifa, and Haroub.

Navigation conditions: Red Sea and Arabian Gulf

Regarding the Red Sea, forecasts indicate that surface winds will be northwesterly to northerly at speeds ranging from 18 to 38 km/h in the northern part, increasing to 20-48 km/h in the central and southern parts. Wave heights will range from half a meter to one and a half meters in the north, and from one and a half to two and a half meters in the central and southern parts, resulting in a slight to moderate sea state in the north and rough seas in the central and southern parts.

In the Arabian Gulf, northeasterly to northerly surface winds will prevail in the northern part, while northwesterly to northeasterly winds will prevail in the central and southern parts, with speeds ranging from 12 to 40 km/h, potentially exceeding 50 km/h during thunderstorms. Wave heights will range from half a meter to one and a half meters, and may exceed two meters in areas affected by thunderstorms, resulting in sea conditions ranging from slight to moderate, occasionally becoming rough.