Saudi Arabia's meteorological department warns of waterspouts and tornadoes
Urgent warnings of severe weather phenomena
The National Center for Meteorology in Saudi Arabia issued important and urgent warnings to citizens and residents, alerting them to the possibility of severe weather phenomena, including waterspouts and tornadoes. In a statement, the center's official spokesperson explained via its official account on the "X" platform that the formation of waterspouts, particularly in coastal areas along the Red Sea, is not ruled out, along with the possibility of tornadoes in some areas affected by the heavy rainfall currently impacting the Kingdom.
The scientific and historical context of the phenomenon
Historically and scientifically, waterspouts are violent air vortices that form over bodies of water when cold air masses meet warm, moist air masses. They are usually accompanied by dense cumulonimbus clouds and heavy rainfall. Although these phenomena are relatively rare, global climate change and the weather fluctuations experienced in the Arabian Peninsula during seasonal transitions have made it essential to activate early warning systems to mitigate their risks to maritime navigation and coastal areas, reflecting the development of the Kingdom's meteorological monitoring system.
Red alert and heavy rain in the eastern region
Locally, warnings were not limited to the western coasts but extended to the Eastern Province, where the National Center for Meteorology issued a "red alert" warning of heavy rains affecting large parts of the region. According to the report, this severe rainfall will begin at 11:00 PM on Tuesday and continue until 11:00 AM on Wednesday in the cities of Jubail, Khobar, Dammam, Qatif, and Ras Tanura. Meanwhile, the weather system will persist until 9:00 AM on Wednesday in Hafr Al-Batin, Al-Udayd, Dhabalutan, Al-Ahsa, Abqaiq, Khafji, Al-Nairiyah, and Qaryat Al-Ulya.
Effects associated with the weather conditions
This severe weather system is accompanied by dangerous effects, including extremely high winds causing near-zero horizontal visibility, heavy hail, flash floods in valleys and ravines, significantly high waves along the coast, and frequent thunderstorms. The widespread impact of this weather system necessitates a full mobilization of relevant authorities to ensure the safe continuation of daily life and to prevent any damage to infrastructure.
Civil Defense Public Safety Guidelines
In this context, the General Directorate of Civil Defense called on all citizens and residents to exercise extreme caution. It stressed the importance of strictly adhering to safety guidelines, especially during periods of heavy rainfall. Among the most important of these guidelines is the immediate avoidance of water accumulations, valleys, flood channels, and dams, as these locations pose a significant risk to life and property. The relevant authorities also urged everyone to follow continuous weather updates through official channels and the National Center of Meteorology website to ensure public safety amidst these ongoing weather fluctuations.
