Weather in Saudi Arabia: Red alert and heavy rain in Riyadh and Qassim
The National Center for Meteorology in Saudi Arabia issued a package of advanced weather alerts and warnings, cautioning against a state of atmospheric instability affecting several regions, where the colors red and orange dominated the interactive early warning map, which calls for caution and vigilance by citizens and residents.
Details of the alerts in Riyadh, Qassim, and Hail
In urgent news, the National Center for Meteorology raised the alert level to "red" in the Riyadh region, forecasting heavy rainfall that will continue until 3:00 PM. This level of alert requires extreme caution and advises staying away from areas prone to flash flooding. Simultaneously, the Qassim region also received a red alert, with heavy rainfall expected to continue until 11:00 PM.
In the northern regions, the center issued two "orange" warnings for both the Hail region and the Northern Borders region, where forecasts indicate moderate rainfall continuing until 10 pm, accompanied by surface wind activity and a decrease in horizontal visibility.
Weather forecast and snowfall
The National Center for Meteorology's weather report for Wednesday indicated continued chances of moderate to heavy thunderstorms, potentially leading to flash floods in parts of Riyadh, the Eastern Province, and the Northern Borders region, accompanied by hail. Meanwhile, moderate rainfall is expected in parts of Tabuk, Al-Jawf, Hail, and Al-Qassim, with a possibility of fog.
The report did not rule out light snowfall and frost formation in the early morning hours in the highlands of the Tabuk and Hail regions, in addition to the northeastern parts of the highlands of the Madinah region, which would give a harsh winter character to those areas.
The importance of early warning systems and the meanings of colors
This report comes as part of the National Center of Meteorology's ongoing efforts to enhance public safety through its automated warning system. A "red alert" typically indicates severe or violent weather phenomena that necessitate staying away from low-lying areas and valleys, and adhering to Civil Defense instructions. An "orange alert" indicates the need to prepare for the possibility that outdoor activities may be affected by the weather.
Climate context and safety measures
These weather fluctuations are a natural part of the winter and spring seasons in the Kingdom, as the Arabian Peninsula is affected by low-pressure systems coming from the north or west, leading to periods of instability. Given the Kingdom's topography, heavy rainfall can quickly lead to flash floods, making official warnings crucial for protecting lives and property. In such conditions, relevant authorities consistently emphasize the importance of closely monitoring weather forecasts and avoiding crossing wadis (valleys), regardless of how low the water level may seem.
