Lowest temperatures in Saudi Arabia: Tarif 1°C and rain in the Eastern Province

Several regions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia witnessed a noticeable drop in temperatures during the past hours, as the National Meteorological Center revealed in its daily report that the city of Tarif recorded the lowest temperature in the Kingdom, which reached only one degree Celsius, reflecting the peak of the cold wave that is currently affecting the northern regions.

List of the lowest recorded temperatures in the cities of the Kingdom

The National Center of Meteorology's report detailed the minimum temperatures recorded at dawn today, which showed a noticeable variation between regions. The list is as follows:

• Tarif: One degree Celsius (the lowest in the Kingdom).
• Sakaka and Arar: Two degrees Celsius.
• Al Qurayyat: 3 degrees Celsius.
• Al-Qaysumah, Al-Ahsa, Dammam, Rafha, Tabuk, and Hail: all recorded 6 degrees Celsius.

This decrease comes within the framework of the usual winter climate at this time of year, as the northern and northeastern regions are affected by cold air masses coming from the north, which makes cities such as Tarif, Al-Qurayyat and Arar among the regions that record temperatures approaching zero degrees Celsius or sometimes below it.

Weather conditions in the Eastern Province: Rain and fog

Meanwhile, coinciding with the drop in temperatures, the National Center of Meteorology issued a weather alert for the Eastern Province, indicating light rain across large parts of the region. This weather pattern continued until the early hours of Monday, accompanied by atmospheric phenomena requiring caution.

The alerts included the following cities and governorates: Jubail, Khobar, Dammam, Dhahran, Qatif, Abqaiq, Ras Tanura, Hafr Al-Batin, and Khafji. The center warned that this rainy weather system is accompanied by active winds that may stir up dust in open areas, in addition to reduced horizontal visibility due to fog, and the presence of thunderstorms in some areas.

Safety and safe driving recommendations

Due to these weather fluctuations, weather experts and relevant authorities advise caution, especially for drivers on highways connecting cities in the Eastern Province or those leading to the northern regions. It is recommended to maintain a safe distance between vehicles, use fog lights when visibility is poor, and avoid excessive speed due to the potential for vehicles to skid when rain begins.

Residents of northern regions that have recorded very low temperatures are also advised to wear heavy winter clothing, secure safe heating methods, and ensure that enclosed spaces are ventilated when using coal or kerosene heaters to avoid suffocation incidents, in line with the ongoing Civil Defense guidelines during the winter season.