The National Center for Meteorology in Saudi Arabia issued weather warning for Medina and its surrounding provinces, indicating that the region is being affected by an unstable weather system that began showing signs today, Sunday, and is expected to continue and intensify until next Wednesday. The forecast ranges from moderate to very heavy rainfall, necessitating heightened preparedness and caution among residents and visitors.
Map of affected areas and flood forecasts
The weather report detailed the areas affected by the rain, confirming that it would not be limited to Medina but would extend to cover a wide geographical area, including vital and tourist-oriented governorates such as Yanbu, Al-Ula, Al-Ais, Khaybar, Badr, Al-Hanakiya, Wadi Al-Fara, and Al-Mahd . Weather maps indicate that the peak of the weather system will be on Tuesday and Wednesday, with the potential for significant rainfall that could lead to flash floods and overflowing wadis.
Geographical nature and the impact of rainfall
These warnings are doubly important given the geographical and topographical nature of the Madinah region, which is known for its extensive network of large and historical valleys. Areas like Al-Ula and Wadi Al-Fara' are characterized by mountainous terrain and deep valleys that can suddenly and rapidly fill with water during heavy rainfall, posing a real danger to hikers or those traveling on roads near floodplains. While the flow of these valleys is a significant seasonal event that replenishes groundwater reserves, it requires extreme caution during such occurrences.
Civil Defense and Public Safety Guidelines
In response to the weather report, the General Directorate of Civil Defense renewed its warnings to citizens and residents, emphasizing the need to adhere to safety instructions during periods of inclement weather. These instructions included immediately staying away from valleys and flood channels, avoiding low-lying areas where water accumulates, and never attempting to cross valleys in vehicles, regardless of the reason, due to the powerful currents that could sweep away heavy vehicles.
Weather conditions in other regions of the Kingdom
In related news, temperatures across the Kingdom varied significantly on Sunday. Al-Ahsa recorded the highest temperature at 31 degrees Celsius, followed by Riyadh and Dammam at 26 degrees Celsius. Mecca reached a high of 27 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, Medina experienced a relatively cooler climate with rainfall, reflecting the Kingdom's diverse climate at this time of year.
