Today's weather forecast: Heavy thunderstorms and a red alert in the Kingdom

Introduction to today's weather

The National Center for Meteorology announced in its daily weather report for Thursday that moderate to heavy thunderstorms are expected to continue across several regions of Saudi Arabia. These storms are part of a series of weather fluctuations affecting the country, and are expected to cause flash floods in valleys and ravines. They will also be accompanied by hail and strong surface winds that may stir up dust and sand, potentially reducing horizontal visibility.

This weather system encompasses large parts of the Al-Baha, Asir, Jazan, and Najran regions, extending its influence to the southern parts of the Makkah highlands. Meanwhile, light to moderate rainfall is expected in parts of the Eastern Province, Riyadh, Qassim, Hail, and the Northern Borders region, reflecting the widespread nature of this weather system and its impact across large swathes of the Kingdom.

Red alert details and affected areas

The National Center for Meteorology issued a "red alert" warning of torrential rains expected to hit parts of three major regions today, Thursday: Al-Baha, Asir, and Abha. This weather phenomenon is expected to begin at noon and continue until 9:00 PM in some areas, and until 11:00 PM in others. The red alert is accompanied by strong winds, near-zero visibility, heavy hail, flash floods, and severe thunderstorms.

Locations of rainfall in detail:

• Al-Baha region: includes Al-Aqiq, Al-Qura, Al-Baha, Al-Mandaq, Baljurashi, and Bani Hassan.
• Asir region: includes Al-Amwah, Al-Arin, Bisha, Tathlith, Tarib, Al-Namas, Balqarn, Tanomah, Al-Harjah, Al-Rabou’ah, Al-Farsha, Sarat Abidah, Dhahran Al-Janoub, Abha, Ahad Rafidah, and Khamis Mushait.
• Jazan region: includes Al-Harth, Al-Dayer, Al-Raith, Al-Ardah, Al-Aydabi, Fifa, and Haroub.

Maritime navigation conditions in the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf

Regarding the Red Sea, surface winds will be northwesterly to northerly at speeds ranging from 18 to 38 km/h in the northern part, increasing to between 20 and 48 km/h in the central and southern parts. Wave heights will range from half a meter to one and a half meters in the north, and from one and a half to two and a half meters in the central and southern parts, resulting in sea conditions that are slight to moderate in the north and moderate to rough in the central and southern parts.

In the Arabian Gulf, winds will be northeasterly to northerly in the northern part, and northwesterly to northeasterly in the central and southern parts, with speeds of 12-40 km/h, potentially exceeding 50 km/h during thunderstorms. Wave heights will range from half a meter to one and a half meters, and may exceed two meters during thunderstorms, resulting in a slight to moderate sea state, occasionally becoming rough.

General context and geographical background of the Kingdom

The southwestern regions of Saudi Arabia, such as the Sarawat Mountains in Asir, Al-Baha, and Jazan, are characterized by a unique mountainous geography that makes them more susceptible to rainfall than other parts of the Kingdom. Historically, these areas have been a prime summer destination thanks to their temperate climate and seasonal rains, which promote vegetation and support local agriculture, particularly the terraced farming for which the region is renowned. The Saudi government, through the National Center for Meteorology, continuously develops early warning systems to ensure the safety of lives and property and mitigate the risks associated with natural disasters.

The importance of the event and its expected impact

Locally, these rains play a vital role in replenishing groundwater and raising dam levels, positively impacting the agricultural sector and water availability. However, the heavy rainfall and flash floods necessitate extreme caution from citizens and residents. The General Directorate of Civil Defense consistently emphasizes the importance of staying away from valleys and flood channels, avoiding crossing them during rainfall, and being wary of lightning strikes and downdrafts that could cause objects to be blown off their hinges. Adherence to safety instructions significantly contributes to reducing traffic accidents and preventing human and material losses during these periods of severe weather.