The Meteorology Department warns of heavy rain and flash floods in Jazan today
The National Center for Meteorology issued an important weather alert today for the Jazan region, forecasting moderate to heavy rainfall. The center explained in its report that this weather system will not be limited to rain alone, but will also be accompanied by strong surface winds, which may stir up dust and sand, reduce horizontal visibility to near zero, and cause hail and flash floods in valleys and ravines.
The alert covered a large number of governorates in the region, with rainfall expected to be concentrated in Al-Harth, Al-Dayer, Al-Raith, Al-Ardah, Al-Aydabi, Fifa, Haroub, Sabya, Abu Arish, Ahad Al-Masarihah, Al-Tuwal, Samtah, and Damad, in addition to the Al-Fatihah center. The National Center for Meteorology stated that this unstable weather condition will continue, God willing, until 8:00 PM this evening, urging everyone to exercise caution.
The geographical nature of Jazan and the impact of weather conditions
Weather warnings in the Jazan region are of particular importance due to its diverse topography. Jazan is characterized by towering mountains in the east (such as the Fifa, Reeth, and Haroub mountains) and coastal plains in the west. This topography makes the region prone to flash floods, where heavy rainwater rushes down from the mountain peaks at high speeds towards the valleys and plains, posing a real danger to hikers or those crossing the wadis during rainfall.
Safety guidelines and how to deal with weather fluctuations
Given these forecasts, relevant authorities, most notably the General Directorate of Civil Defense, are renewing their calls for adherence to safety guidelines during the rainy season. Citizens and residents are advised to stay away from floodplains and waterlogged areas, and to avoid crossing wadis, no matter how low the water level may seem, as flash floods can suddenly sweep away vehicles with tremendous force. Drivers are also advised to exercise extreme caution while driving on highways and secondary roads due to reduced visibility caused by heavy rain or dust storms associated with strong winds, and to avoid high speeds to prevent skidding accidents.
Environmental and agricultural importance of rainfall
Despite safety warnings, these rains bring good tidings to the region, a major food basket in the Kingdom. The Jazan region is renowned for its tropical crops, Khawlani coffee, and mangoes, and these crops rely heavily on rainwater and groundwater replenished by flash floods. Therefore, the heavy rainfall contributes to boosting water reserves and irrigating the mountain terraces, positively impacting the region's agricultural production and economy, provided that the risks of flash floods are addressed responsibly.
