Lowest temperature in Saudi Arabia today: Sakaka records -5 degrees Celsius

Large areas of Saudi Arabia are experiencing a severe cold wave and a sharp drop in temperatures. The city of Sakaka recorded the lowest temperature in the Kingdom on Thursday, reaching -5 degrees Celsius, according to data released by the National Center for Meteorology. This cold wave confirms the arrival of peak winter in the northern and central regions, necessitating caution from citizens and residents.

List of the coldest cities in the Kingdom

Weather monitoring reports showed that the northern regions were the most affected by this polar wave, with northern cities dominating the list of lowest temperatures recorded at dawn today. The ranking was as follows:

• Sakaka: 5 degrees Celsius below zero.
• Arar: 4 degrees Celsius below zero.
• Hail: 3 degrees Celsius below zero.
• Tabuk: Two degrees Celsius below zero.
• Al Qurayyat: Two degrees Celsius below zero.
• Tarif: One degree Celsius below zero.

Climate context and the impact of polar air masses

These sharp drops in temperature are a recurring phenomenon at this time of year, as the Kingdom's atmosphere, particularly in the northern regions (Al-Jawf, the Northern Borders, and Tabuk), is affected by the advance of extremely cold polar air masses originating from Siberia or Eastern Europe. As these air masses cross the Kingdom's skies, they cause temperatures to plummet below freezing, leading to frost formation in the early morning hours. This can directly impact the agricultural sector and traffic on highways.

Today's weather forecast for Thursday

In its weather forecast, the National Center for Meteorology predicted continued cold to very cold conditions across large parts of Tabuk, Al-Jawf, the Northern Borders, Hail, Al-Qassim, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province. The center warned of frost formation that could cover areas of these regions during the early morning hours.

Winds and dust storms

The report also noted surface wind activity stirring up dust and sand, leading to reduced horizontal visibility. This impact includes:

• The southern parts of the Eastern Province and Riyadh.
• Najran region.
• Parts of the regions of Mecca, Medina and Tabuk.

Chance of rain and fog

Meanwhile, scattered showers, ranging from light to moderate, remain possible, with partly to mostly cloudy skies over parts of Jazan, Asir, and Al-Baha regions, extending to parts of Makkah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province. The meteorological department also warned of the possibility of dense fog during the night and early morning hours, increasing the risks of driving on highways in the Northern Borders, Al-Jawf, and Tabuk regions, as well as in areas experiencing rainfall.