Heavy rain, hailstorm turn Saudi desert white in rare weather event
Listen to article
Unusually heavy rainfall and hailstorms swept across parts of Saudi Arabia, covering desert landscapes in a white blanket, authorities said on Saturday.
The extreme weather hit the northern regions of Tabuk and Hail, where dark clouds loomed over the skies before torrential downpours and hail turned parts of the arid land into a wintry scene. Temperatures dropped significantly as a result.
Saudi Arabia's meteorological department has warned that unstable weather will persist until Tuesday, with varying intensities of rain expected across different cities.
Following the storm, residents reported a noticeable increase in cold temperatures, while local authorities urged caution due to slippery roads and low visibility in affected areas.
Previously, Saudi Arabia's General Directorate of Civil Defense had issued a weather warning, forecasting moderate to heavy rainfall across much of the country until Friday.
Affected regions include Makkah, Riyadh, Medina, Tabuk, Hail, Qassim, the Eastern Province, Northern Borders, Al Jouf, Al Baha, and Asir, accoring to Gulf News.
The Civil Defense has urged residents to take necessary precautions, avoid flood-prone areas, and refrain from swimming in valleys. Authorities encourage the public to stay updated through official channels for the latest weather alerts and safety guidance.
In response to the weather conditions, the Makkah Education Department has announced the suspension of in-person classes for students across Makkah and the governorates of Al Jumum, Al Kamil, and Bahra. Classes will be held remotely via the Madrasati platform.
Umm Al Qura University has also switched to remote learning on Tuesday, in line with the National Center of Meteorology's forecast. This includes all university campuses, affiliated offices, and colleges in the Makkah region.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
27-05-2025
- Express Tribune
Hajj to fall on June 5 as Saudi Arabia confirms Zil Hajj moon sighting
Listen to article Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates (UAE) has confirmed Friday, June 6, as the first day of Eidul Adha after the Zil Hajj crescent was sighted on Tuesday, Gulf News reported. Moon sighting committees across the Arab world and other Muslim-majority countries observed the crescent moon of Zil Hajj—the 12th and final month of the Islamic lunar calendar—on Tuesday, May 27. The Kingdom announced that the Zil Hajj crescent had been sighted, confirming that next Friday, June 6, will mark the first day of Eidul Adha. BREAKING NEWS: The crescent moon has been sighted in Saudi Arabia — Dhul Hijjah 1446 begins tonight. *Day of 'Arafah: 5 June 2025* *Eid Al-Adha: 6 June 2025* May Allāh accept the Hajj of the Hujjaj and our worship and allow us to make the most of these blessed days. Aameen. — 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻 (@HaramainInfo) May 27, 2025 This means, according to the lunar calendar, the first day of the new month will fall on Wednesday, May 28 and Hajj to fall on June 5. The UAE also announced the moon sighting, declaring that Eidul Adha 2025 will be observed on Friday, June 6, with May 28 marking the first day of Zil Hajj. Similarly, Oman and Indonesia have also officially announced that Wednesday, May 28, 2025, will mark the first day of Dhu Al Hijjah with Eid to be observed on Friday, June 6. Read more: Zil Hajj moon not sighted, Eidul Adha to be observed on June 7 Earlier reports indicated that persistent dusty conditions across the region had made it difficult to spot the crescent moon of Zil Hajj. Reduced visibility could impact official moon sighting efforts, which are crucial for determining the dates of Arafat Day and Eidul Adha. Moreover, the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee in Pakistan also announced on Tuesday that the Zil Hajj moon was not sighted in the country. As a result, the first day of Zil Hajj will be observed on Thursday, May 29, and Eidul Adha will be celebrated on June 7, 2025.
Express Tribune
21-03-2025
- Express Tribune
Rainfall, hailstorms, strong winds to persist in Saudi Arabia till Sunday
Listen to article As Ramadan enters its final 10 nights, known as Qiyam Al-Layl, the National Center for Meteorology (NCM) has predicted that inclement weather will persist across Saudi Arabia until Sunday. Moderate to heavy rain, gusty winds, and hailstorms are expected in several regions, including Makkah, Al-Baha, Aseer, Jazan, Najran, as well as parts of Qassim, Riyadh, and the Eastern regions. Several regions in Saudi Arabia, including the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah, experienced moderate to heavy rainfall on Thursday with Jeddah's Al-Jami'ah district recorded the highest rainfall, with 24.8mm of rain. The rain in Makkah, in particular, offered a welcome respite to Umrah pilgrims, providing a break from the typically hot weather. Faiz Al-Najdi, a resident of Yanbu, described the weather in Makkah as 'pleasant' and shared, 'I performed Umrah with my family with ease and even prayed in the open courtyard of the grand mosque. It was truly a blessing to be able to fulfill my religious duties while enjoying such good weather.' Meanwhile, the General Directorate of Civil Defense has issued safety warnings, urging people to stay in safe areas, avoid flood-prone zones, and refrain from swimming in low-lying valleys. Residents have been reminded to follow local authority instructions communicated via media and social platforms. In Riyadh, text messages have alerted residents to forecasted rain from Wednesday to Saturday (March 19-22, 2025), with predictions of flash floods, high waves along the coasts, and hailstorms in the highlands. The Red Sea is expected to see northwesterly to northerly winds at speeds of 25-50 km per hour in the northern and central regions, with waves ranging from 1.5 to 2 meters. In the Arabian Gulf, winds will be southeasterly, with speeds of 12-40 km per hour, and waves from half a meter to more than 2 meters, creating choppy sea conditions.
Express Tribune
08-03-2025
- Express Tribune
Heavy rain, hailstorm turn Saudi desert white in rare weather event
Listen to article Unusually heavy rainfall and hailstorms swept across parts of Saudi Arabia, covering desert landscapes in a white blanket, authorities said on Saturday. The extreme weather hit the northern regions of Tabuk and Hail, where dark clouds loomed over the skies before torrential downpours and hail turned parts of the arid land into a wintry scene. Temperatures dropped significantly as a result. Saudi Arabia's meteorological department has warned that unstable weather will persist until Tuesday, with varying intensities of rain expected across different cities. Following the storm, residents reported a noticeable increase in cold temperatures, while local authorities urged caution due to slippery roads and low visibility in affected areas. Previously, Saudi Arabia's General Directorate of Civil Defense had issued a weather warning, forecasting moderate to heavy rainfall across much of the country until Friday. Affected regions include Makkah, Riyadh, Medina, Tabuk, Hail, Qassim, the Eastern Province, Northern Borders, Al Jouf, Al Baha, and Asir, accoring to Gulf News. The Civil Defense has urged residents to take necessary precautions, avoid flood-prone areas, and refrain from swimming in valleys. Authorities encourage the public to stay updated through official channels for the latest weather alerts and safety guidance. In response to the weather conditions, the Makkah Education Department has announced the suspension of in-person classes for students across Makkah and the governorates of Al Jumum, Al Kamil, and Bahra. Classes will be held remotely via the Madrasati platform. Umm Al Qura University has also switched to remote learning on Tuesday, in line with the National Center of Meteorology's forecast. This includes all university campuses, affiliated offices, and colleges in the Makkah region.
