Weather developments in Saudi Arabia today
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is experiencing significant weather fluctuations during this period, with the National Center for Meteorology issuing its detailed daily report on the weather conditions in the Kingdom . These periodic reports play a vital role in alerting citizens and residents, contributing to the preservation of lives and property, and are part of national efforts to enhance public safety and mitigate natural hazards. The Center anticipates, God willing, continued thunderstorms of moderate to heavy intensity, which may lead to flash floods in several valleys and regions, accompanied by hail.
Areas covered by the rain and wind forecast
The report explained that this weather condition is accompanied by strong, high-speed winds that will stir up dust and sand, potentially leading to near-zero horizontal visibility. These warnings cover large parts of the Kingdom, specifically: the Northern Borders, Al-Jawf, Tabuk, Hail, Al-Qassim, the Eastern Province, Madinah, Makkah, Al-Baha, Asir, Jazan, and Najran. The chances of dense fog forming over parts of the highlands in these regions are also increasing, requiring drivers to exercise extreme caution while driving on highways to avoid traffic accidents.
Snowfall in the Tabuk highlands: an exceptional tourist attraction
In a related context, the weather report did not rule out the possibility of light snowfall in parts of the Tabuk region's mountainous areas, specifically Jabal Al-Lawz, Al-Aqan, and Al-Dahr. This weather phenomenon is of great local and regional importance, as the Tabuk highlands transform annually into a prominent winter tourist destination, attracting thousands of visitors, nature enthusiasts, and photographers from within the Kingdom and abroad to enjoy the snow cover. This boosts domestic tourism and supports the region's local economy, in line with the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030.
Maritime navigation conditions in the Red Sea
Regarding the Red Sea, the National Center of Meteorology indicated that surface winds will be northerly to northwesterly in the northern part, and southeasterly to southerly in the central and southern parts. Wind speeds will range from 15 to 33 km/h, and may exceed 50 km/h with the formation of thunderstorms and rain. Wave heights will range from half a meter to one and a half meters, and may exceed two meters in areas of thunderstorms, resulting in sea conditions ranging from slight to moderate, occasionally becoming rough. These warnings are of utmost importance for commercial maritime navigation and fishing vessels to ensure their safety.
Gulf forecasts and their impact
For the Arabian Gulf, surface winds are expected to be southeasterly to southerly at speeds ranging from 16 to 35 km/h, and reaching over 50 km/h during thunderstorms. Wave height will be similar to the Red Sea, ranging from half a meter to one and a half meters, occasionally exceeding two meters. These comprehensive forecasts underscore the importance of continuously monitoring official weather bulletins, especially for those involved in maritime and commercial activities along the Kingdom's eastern coasts, to ensure the safe continuation of operations.
