Red alert: Severe weather fluctuations hit the Kingdom
The National Center for Meteorology in Saudi Arabia issued an urgent report, including a "red alert," warning of severe weather fluctuations and heavy rainfall across large parts of six major regions in the Kingdom during the early hours of Thursday. These warnings come as part of the authorities' commitment to the safety of citizens and residents. The weather phenomenon began at 1:00 AM in some areas and spread to other locations by 2:00 AM. This heavy rainfall is expected to continue until 5:00 PM today.
Climate context and the impact of weather changes
Historically, Saudi Arabia experiences significant weather fluctuations during seasonal transitions, but recent years have seen an increase in the frequency and intensity of rainfall. This shift is attributed to several regional and global climatic factors related to climate change, in addition to ongoing national efforts in cloud seeding programs aimed at increasing rainfall and bolstering strategic water reserves. The National Center of Meteorology plays a pivotal role in monitoring these changes and issuing early warnings, effectively contributing to mitigating risks and minimizing material and human losses.
Expected impacts at the local level
Locally, these heavy rains have multiple impacts; on the one hand, they are a blessing, supporting the agricultural sector and replenishing groundwater levels; on the other hand, they necessitate extreme caution due to the accompanying phenomena. The report indicated that this weather system is accompanied by high-speed winds leading to near-zero horizontal visibility, in addition to hail, flash floods in valleys and ravines, high waves in coastal areas, and intense thunderstorms. These conditions are putting urban infrastructure to the test and require mobilization of civil defense teams and municipal authorities to ensure smooth traffic flow and efficient drainage of rainwater.
Map of areas covered by the red alert
The National Center for Meteorology has defined the geographical scope of this rainy weather to include the following regions and cities:
- Eastern Province: Includes Jubail, Khobar, Dammam, Qatif, Ras Tanura, Hafr Al-Batin, Khafji, Nairyah, and Qaryat Al-Ulya.
- Makkah Region: Al-Khurmah, Al-Muwayh, Turabah, Ranyah, Adham, Maysan, and Taif (in addition to parts included in the report such as Thadiq, Huraymila, Rumah, Dhurma, and Marat).
- Riyadh region: Al-Zulfi, Al-Ghat, Al-Majma’ah, Shaqra, Al-Rayn, Al-Quway’iyah, Al-Dawadmi, and Afif.
- Al-Qassim region: Al-Asyah, Al-Badai’, Al-Bukayriyah, Al-Thamiriya, Al-Shamasiya, Al-Ammar, Al-Mudhnib, Buraydah, Unayzah, Uyun Al-Jawa, Aban, Al-Khabra, Ar-Rass, Al-Fawarah, An-Nabhaniah, Riyadh Al-Khabra, Dhariyah, and Uqlat As-Suqur.
- Asir region: Al Namas, Balqarn, and Tanomah.
- Al-Baha region: Al-Aqiq, Al-Qura, Al-Mandaq, Al-Baha, Baljurashi, and Bani Hassan.
Safety and Civil Defense Guidelines
Given these severe weather forecasts, the General Directorate of Civil Defense continues to emphasize the need for extreme caution. Citizens and residents are urged to stay away from valleys and flood channels, and to avoid attempting to cross them during rainfall, no matter how shallow the water levels may appear. Drivers are also advised to exercise caution while driving due to reduced visibility and the potential for slippery roads. Strict adherence to these official instructions is the first line of defense in ensuring the safety of lives and property and navigating this exceptional weather situation safely.
