Saudi Arabia is experiencing widespread storms accompanied by moderate to heavy rainfall across most parts of the country, prompting the National Center for Meteorology (NCM) to issue a flood warning. The agency cautioned that if weather conditions do not improve soon, several regions may face sudden flash floods.
According to a report by Gulf News, strong winds and intense rainfall have already begun in Makkah, Madinah, Qassim, Riyadh, the Eastern Province, and the Northern Border Region. Light to moderate rain is also affecting Hail, Tabuk, Al Jouf, and southwestern districts, many of which are also experiencing heavy fog.
Rain and storms are relatively rare in the desert climate of Saudi Arabia, though the country has witnessed several episodes of severe weather in the past two to three years.
The NCM stated that a deep depression over the Red Sea is responsible for the ongoing weather pattern. Winds moving from the Red Sea toward various parts of the Kingdom are blowing at speeds of 18 to 40 km/h, with gusts potentially reaching up to 50 km/h.
Stormy weather has also developed over the Arabian Gulf, where winds moving toward southern Saudi Arabia are blowing at 10 to 35 km/h.
