The National Center for Meteorology in Saudi Arabia issued an important warning on Tuesday regarding the expected weather conditions in the Al-Baha region, indicating that the region is affected by a state of atmospheric instability that includes scattered rainfall and surface wind activity.
Weather details and affected areas
The center explained in its daily report that the weather conditions include moderate to heavy rainfall, accompanied by strong winds that may stir up dust and sand in some open areas, in addition to a significant decrease in horizontal visibility due to dense fog, hail, and flash floods in valleys and ravines. The report indicated that these conditions affect the city of Al-Baha and several of its main governorates and affiliated centers, namely: Al-Aqiq, Baljurashi, Al-Qura, Bani Hassan, and Al-Mandaq, as well as the areas adjacent to these regions.
The National Center for Meteorology stated that this weather condition will continue - God willing - until 8 pm today, calling on everyone to be cautious and follow the continuous updates through official channels.
The geographical nature of the courtyard and the impact of the weather
Weather warnings in the Al-Baha region are of particular importance due to the area's geography and topography. Located on the Sarawat Mountains, Al-Baha is characterized by its towering peaks and winding mountain roads (passes) that connect the Sarawat and Tihama regions. This terrain makes the area more prone to dense fog, which significantly reduces visibility, especially during rainfall, requiring extra caution from drivers.
Rainfall in mountainous areas also contributes to the faster flow of valleys and streams compared to flat areas, which reinforces the importance of warnings issued by the concerned authorities to avoid low-lying areas and flood channels.
Safety and Precautionary Guidelines
In these conditions, the General Directorate of Civil Defense typically urges citizens and residents to adhere to public safety guidelines. This includes staying away from valleys and flood channels during rainfall and not attempting to cross valleys, regardless of the water level. Drivers are also advised to reduce speed, maintain a safe following distance, and use low-beam headlights in foggy conditions to ensure everyone's safety.
Despite the risks these rains may pose if instructions are not followed, they are a good omen for the region, which relies heavily on agriculture and agricultural terraces, as they contribute to irrigating crops and increasing groundwater reserves and dams in the region.
