Meteorology: April 2024 will be an exceptional month with unprecedented rainfall in Saudi Arabia

The official spokesperson for the National Center for Meteorology in Saudi Arabia, Hussein Al-Qahtani, confirmed that April 2024 witnessed an exceptional and unprecedented weather event across most regions of the Kingdom. Al-Qahtani explained that the rainfall during the month ranged from moderate to heavy, affecting all regions without exception, a rare occurrence in terms of its scale and scope.

Climatic background and general context

Saudi Arabia is characterized by a desert and semi-desert climate across most of its territory, with rainfall typically scarce and seasonal, concentrated in winter and spring. Spring, particularly March and April, is known as the "Sarayat" season, a period of atmospheric instability that leads to the formation of cumulonimbus clouds and sometimes heavy rainfall. However, the weather patterns witnessed in April 2024 exceeded normal levels in terms of both geographical spread and intensity, making it a significant climatic event worthy of study and analysis. Some attribute this to the global trend of increasing frequency of extreme weather events due to climate change.

Details of the exceptional rainfall event

Al-Qahtani noted that the National Center for Meteorology's monitoring stations recorded record rainfall amounts in several cities. The city of Abha in the Asir region recorded the highest rainfall in a single day, reaching 73 mm on April 10th, an indicator reflecting the intensity of the rainfall activity the Kingdom experienced during that period. This amount is considered very high by local standards and led to flash floods and overflowing wadis in various areas, contributing to the replenishment of groundwater reservoirs and dams.

Importance and expected effects

This exceptional weather event has had multiple impacts at both the local and regional levels. Locally, the heavy rainfall is contributing to bolstering the Kingdom's strategic water reserves, supporting the agricultural sector, and revitalizing vegetation in rangelands and wilderness areas, aligning with the goals of major initiatives such as "Green Saudi Arabia." Conversely, the rainfall has posed a challenge to infrastructure in some cities, leading to flash floods and flooding that prompted continuous warnings from Civil Defense and other relevant authorities. Regionally, this event coincided with similar weather phenomena affecting neighboring Gulf countries, such as the United Arab Emirates and the Sultanate of Oman, indicating that the low-pressure system had a widespread regional impact.

Future outlook and recommendations

Al-Qahtani added that initial indicators for May, the last month of spring, point to a relative rise in temperatures, paving the way for the gradual onset of summer. He emphasized that the center continues its close monitoring of weather developments and is working to issue necessary reports and warnings promptly, urging everyone to follow information from official sources to ensure their safety.