The National Center for Meteorology in Saudi Arabia issued red alert ) on Friday, warning of severe weather instability affecting large parts of three major regions, in addition to strong winds impacting the Eastern Province. This warning is part of the ongoing monitoring of weather conditions to ensure the safety of citizens and residents.
Details of the rain situation and the red alert
The center explained in its report that the weather conditions include heavy rainfall starting at 10:00 AM and continuing until 8:00 PM. This rainfall is expected to be accompanied by severe weather phenomena, including high-speed winds, near-zero horizontal visibility, hail, flash floods in valleys and ravines, and thunderstorms.
The warning included the following areas:
- Makkah Region: Specifically in Adham, Bani Yazid, Jadhma, Maysan, Yalamlam, and Taif Governorate.
- Asir region: This included Al Namas, Balqarn, and Tanomah.
- Al-Baha region: It includes Al-Aqiq, Al-Qura, Al-Mandaq, Al-Baha city, Baljurashi, and Bani Hassan.
Active winds and dust in the Eastern Province
In a related development, the center issued another alert for the Eastern Province , which is experiencing active surface winds stirring up dust and sand. This condition will begin at 9:00 AM and continue until 6:00 PM, affecting Jubail, Khobar, Dammam, Qatif, Ras Tanura, Al-Ahsa, Al-Udayd, and Abqaiq. These winds, with speeds ranging from 40 to 49 km/h, will reduce horizontal visibility, necessitating caution while driving on highways and open roads.
The importance of adhering to safety instructions
The “red alert” is the highest level of warning in the National Center for Meteorology’s automated early warning system, indicating severe weather conditions that may require immediate precautionary measures. In such circumstances, the General Directorate of Civil Defense typically advises people to stay away from water accumulations, valleys, and dams, and to avoid attempting to cross flash floods, regardless of the water level, given the mountainous terrain of Makkah, Asir, and Al-Baha, which is conducive to the formation of rapidly spreading flash floods.
climatic and geographical context
The areas covered by the rain warning (the Sarawat Mountains) are characterized by their rugged terrain, making them prone to the formation of cumulonimbus clouds and thunderstorms, especially during seasonal transitions. These weather fluctuations directly affect traffic and daily activities, highlighting the importance of following up on current weather forecasts issued by official authorities to avoid potential hazards.
