The Meteorology Department told Al-Youm: 92 weather monitoring stations are tracking the Hajj atmosphere and improving the accuracy of climate forecasts

The Director General of Research, Development, and Innovation at the National Center for Meteorology, Turki Habibullah, confirmed that the center has deployed more than 92 weather monitoring and advanced technologies based on artificial intelligence and modern systems to support the safety of pilgrims and enhance the preparedness of relevant authorities during the Hajj season.
He noted that the center is working on developing an accurate forecasting system that will contribute to protecting pilgrims and improving the efficiency of response to weather phenomena.

The Hajj Security Forum, held in Jeddah under the patronage of Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Nayef, discussed several topics related to the relationship between weather conditions,pilgrims' health , and infrastructure safety. The forum highlighted that the National Center for Meteorology issues a series of specialized reports daily, including morning and evening reports, road condition reports, ten-day weather forecasts, and preliminary weather reports.
These reports are sent to relevant authorities through 14 different communication channels, ensuring the rapid and continuous delivery of weather information and updates. Some reports are translated into English using artificial intelligence to reach pilgrims and visitors of various nationalities. The
forum also noted that the center is working on employing artificial intelligence in weather forecasting, explaining that work is underway to develop an advanced technological model, which began last year and is expected to be officially launched in the coming months.

He added that the early warning system is one of the center’s most prominent operational tools, as it is directly linked to all relevant parties, and through it alerts are sent instantly when any significant or critical weather phenomenon is detected.
He cited what happened during the last Hajj season, when temperatures exceeding 45 degrees Celsius were recorded, which prompted direct communication with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to take precautionary measures, including delaying the movement of pilgrims to throw stones at the Jamarat until after 4 pm, in order to reduce the risks of heat stress and sunstroke.

Habibullah explained that the center maintains ongoing coordination with various entities through workshops, joint committees, and virtual exercises, known as "tabletop exercises," which aim to train these entities on how to interpret weather reports and handle different climatic scenarios.
Regarding climate studies, he noted that the center is organizing its third consecutive "Climate Impact" workshop, which showcases the center's services and awareness and media programs, along with climate and historical studies related to weather conditions. He indicated that the most recent workshop was attended by more than 58 specialists and participants from relevant organizations.
He confirmed that the center is currently participating in several scientific forums and conferences to promote its services and climate reports related to the Hajj season. He added that the CEO of the National Center for Meteorology, Ayman Ghulam, will soon announce the initial weather forecast for the Hajj season, which will include temperature indicators and expected weather conditions from the 1st to the 15th of Dhu al-Hijjah.

Regarding the technological infrastructure, he explained that the center relies on an integrated system that includes satellites, radars, and remote sensing technologies, in addition to automated monitoring stations deployed throughout Mecca, Medina, the Holy Sites, and various regions of the Kingdom.
He noted that the number of monitoring stations in the Mecca and Holy Sites area is 21, while Medina has approximately 13 surface monitoring stations, in addition to a specialized radar and an upper-air monitoring station. He emphasized that this system contributes to increasing the accuracy of weather forecasts and improving the quality of climate reports year after year.
He concluded by affirming that the National Center for Meteorology works annually to measure the accuracy of weather forecasts during the Hajj season and shares the results with relevant authorities to improve performance and enhance response efficiency. He stressed that improving forecast accuracy directly contributes to supporting the operational and organizational plans related to serving the pilgrims.