Scattered areas of the Madinah region experienced moderate to heavy rainfall this evening, while the sky remains overcast, indicating a chance of further rain in the coming hours. This weather pattern is part of a wave of unstable conditions affecting Saudi Arabia, which is being closely monitored by relevant authorities.
Details of the National Center for Meteorology's warnings
The National Center for Meteorology issued an advanced weather alert for the Madinah region, warning of the possibility of heavy rainfall that could lead to flash floods. The alert included several key governorates, most notably Al-Ais, Badr, Al-Rais, and Yanbu. According to the meteorological report, this weather system began at 2:00 AM and will remain in effect until 7:00 PM today, urging citizens and residents to take precautions.
The center explained in its statement that the rainy weather will not be isolated, but is expected to be accompanied by severe weather phenomena including high-speed winds leading to a lack of horizontal visibility, in addition to hail and strong thunderstorms, which increases the risks of traveling on highways and open roads during the warning period.
General weather conditions in the Kingdom
The weather fluctuations are not limited to Medina alone. The National Center for Meteorology revealed details of the expected weather conditions across the Kingdom on Saturday, warning of thunderstorms of varying intensity. Forecasts indicate continued chances of moderate to heavy thunderstorms, accompanied by hail and strong winds that may stir up dust and sand, affecting wide areas including Qassim, Hail, Tabuk, Al-Jawf, the Northern Borders, the Eastern Province, and the northern parts of the Riyadh region.
The importance of exercising caution and staying away from flood channels
In a related context, these warnings are of paramount importance given the geographical nature of some governorates in Medina and the surrounding areas, where valleys and ravines abound and can suddenly fill with rainwater during heavy rainfall. In such circumstances, the relevant authorities consistently emphasize the necessity of staying away from valley bottoms and flood channels, and avoiding the risk of crossing valleys while they are flowing, in order to protect lives and property.
These seasonal rains are an important part of the Kingdom’s climate system, as they contribute to irrigating the land and replenishing groundwater. However, they require a high level of community awareness to deal with the risks associated with them, especially with regard to driving during periods of low visibility or dealing with water accumulations.
