The National Center for Meteorology in Saudi Arabia issued important and urgent weather alerts, warning of moderate to heavy rainfall in the Al-Baha region. These warnings come as part of ongoing monitoring of the weather fluctuations affecting the region, with the rain expected to continue, God willing, until 9:00 PM this evening.
Details of the weather conditions and associated phenomena
The meteorological report explained that these rains will not be limited to rainfall alone, but will be accompanied by a range of severe weather phenomena. These include strong winds leading to near-zero horizontal visibility, posing a real danger to drivers on open and mountainous roads. The center also strongly warned of flash floods in valleys and ravines, hailstorms, and violent thunderstorms.
The areas directly affected by this weather system include the city of Al-Baha, and the governorates of Al-Qura, Al-Mandaq, Baljurashi, Bani Hassan, Al-Aqiq, and surrounding areas. In a related development, warnings were issued for moderate rainfall with similar effects in the Tihama region, including the governorates of Al-Makhwah, Qalwah, Al-Hajrah, and Ghamid Al-Zanad.
The geographical nature and climatic history of the region
The Al-Baha region is characterized by its unique geographical features, combining the towering Sarawat Mountains with the low-lying Tihama plains. This geographical diversity makes it one of the regions in the Kingdom most susceptible to rapid weather fluctuations and the formation of cumulonimbus clouds, especially during the transitional periods between seasons. Historically, Al-Baha has been considered one of the regions with high rainfall rates compared to other parts of the Kingdom, and its renowned terraced agriculture relies heavily on these seasonal rains, which contribute to irrigating the agricultural terraces and replenishing the strategic groundwater reserves.
Local and regional impacts of weather fluctuations
Locally, these rains play a vital role in supporting vegetation and boosting ecotourism in the region. However, they also require extreme caution from residents and visitors, especially when traveling on mountain roads known as "Aqabat," which may experience rockfalls or dense fog that impairs visibility. Regionally, this weather pattern reflects the noticeable climate changes occurring in the Arabian Peninsula, where the frequency of extreme rainfall events has increased in recent years. Internationally, climate and meteorology experts link these changes to global climate phenomena that affect the paths of low-pressure systems, leading to unusually high rainfall levels in the arid and semi-arid regions of the Middle East.
Safety and Civil Defense Guidelines
The General Directorate of Civil Defense, in conjunction with the warnings issued by the National Center of Meteorology, consistently emphasizes the need for extreme caution. It stresses the importance of staying away from valleys and floodplains, avoiding open areas, and refraining from using mobile phones during thunderstorms. Strict adherence to these guidelines is crucial to ensuring the safety of lives and property until this exceptional weather event has passed.
