Saudi Arabia’s National Center for Meteorology (NCM) issued a high-priority red alert today as severe weather systems sweep across Saudi Arabia. Forecasters expect heavy rainfall and volatile conditions to impact several key provinces, prompting urgent safety warnings from national emergency services.
The current weather alert officially covers Riyadh, Makkah, Jazan, Hail, Qassim, Asir, the Eastern Province, and the Northern Borders region. According to meteorologists, these areas will experience high-speed winds, significantly reduced horizontal visibility, and frequent bouts of heavy hail. Consequently, authorities expect flash floods to develop rapidly in valleys and low-lying areas during the peak of these thunderstorms.
Regional Forecast and Rare Snowfall
Earlier predictions from the NCM suggested that moderate to heavy thunderstorms would persist throughout the Eastern Province and Najran. The center also expanded the scope of the warning to include parts of Al-Baha, Madinah, Tabuk, and Al-Jouf tonight. Heavy fog will likely form in these northern and central regions, creating hazardous driving conditions for commuters on main highways. Furthermore, weather experts do not rule out light snowfall on the high peaks of Tabuk, specifically Al-Lawz and Al-Aqan.
In a related development, the General Directorate of Civil Defense urged citizens to avoid open areas during active lightning strikes. They advised the public to stay away from tall trees or metal structures and seek immediate shelter in permanent buildings. Because visibility remains low, the directorate emphasized that drivers must exercise extreme caution while traveling through mountainous or rural roads.
Emergency Response and Community Awareness
The directorate continues to implement its national awareness program to enhance community preparedness during these frequent seasonal weather fluctuations. Officials urged the public to monitor safety instructions on social media and adhere to all official government weather bulletins. Residents in Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province should call 911 for emergencies, while those in other regions can reach out to 998.
Meanwhile, Turaif governorate reported temperatures dropping to 8°C as dense fog blanketed the region earlier on Tuesday.
