Saudi Arabia weather today: Heavy rain, snow, and a red alert for the Eastern Province

The National Center for Meteorology in Saudi Arabia, in its report issued today, Thursday, revealed details of the expected weather conditions, indicating continued severe weather fluctuations across most regions of the Kingdom. The report included forecasts of moderate to heavy thunderstorms, which may lead to flash floods in valleys and ravines, accompanied by hail and strong winds that will stir up dust and sand.

Weather details and affected areas

The center explained that the rainfall will be concentrated mainly in parts of the Eastern Province, Riyadh, and Qassim, where heavy rain is expected and caution is advised. Meanwhile, the Northern Borders, Al-Jawf, and Hail regions, as well as the southwestern parts of the Kingdom, will experience light to moderate rainfall, with a high probability of fog that may reduce horizontal visibility in the early morning hours.

In a notable development regarding the winter climate, the report did not rule out snowfall on the highlands and parts of the Hail and Qassim regions, with this opportunity extending to include the northern parts of the Riyadh region, coinciding with a noticeable drop in temperatures, as cold to very cold weather prevails, especially in the northern and northwestern regions of the Kingdom.

Context of the rainfall situation and the importance of warnings

This weather pattern is particularly concerning given the Kingdom's topography, where heavy rainfall typically causes flash floods, posing a danger to hikers and road users. These warnings come at a time when the Kingdom is experiencing an active winter season, and while rainfall at this time of year is vital for vegetation and water reserves, it still requires strict adherence to safety guidelines.

Such weather conditions are usually accompanied by a mobilization of civil defense teams and service agencies to ensure the smooth flow of traffic and to deal immediately with any water accumulations, especially in major cities and low-lying areas.

The state of the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf

In terms of maritime navigation, the Red Sea is experiencing northwesterly to northeasterly surface winds reaching speeds of up to 50 km/h in its northern and central parts, while wind speeds in the southern part reach 60 km/h with the formation of thunderstorms. Wave heights range between 1.5 and 2.5 meters, making sea conditions rough and unstable.

As for the Arabian Gulf, it is experiencing active northwesterly to westerly winds with speeds exceeding 60 km/h, with wave heights exceeding two and a half meters in the presence of rain-bearing thunderclouds, which necessitates warning sea-goers and fishermen.

Red alert for the Eastern region

In an advanced warning, the National Center for Meteorology issued a "red alert" for the Eastern Province, warning of heavy rain starting at 8:00 AM and continuing until 8:00 PM. This alert covers the cities and governorates of Jubail, Khobar, Dammam, Qatif, Ras Tanura, Al-Ahsa, Abqaiq, Khafji, Nairyah, Qaryat Al-Ulya, and Hafr Al-Batin.

The effects associated with this situation include a lack of horizontal visibility, hail, flash floods, high waves, and thunderstorms, which calls for extreme caution and staying away from places where water collects and flash flood channels.