Hajj 2025: Hot to Extremely Hot Weather Expected at Holy Sites
As Wednesday May 28, 2025 marked the first day of Dhu'al-Hijjah, the Hajj season for this year will take place during the first ten days of June 2025. In the light of this, the Saudi National Center of Meteorology (NCM) announced its weather forecast for the Hajj season.
In a press conference, the NCM's Chief Executive, Ayman Ghulam, said that the expected weather conditions at the Holy Sites will be hot to extremely hot.
According to Ghulam, the maximum temperatures in the Holy Sites during Hajj are forecast to range between 40 and 47 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, the minimum temperatures will range between 27 and 32 degree Celsius.
Moreover, the humidity levels could reach up to 60%. The Holy Sites are likely to experience northerly to northwesterly winds at speeds ranging from 25 km/h to 35 km/h. These winds may stir up dust and reduce visibility, particularly in open areas and highways, he noted.
Additionally, the NCM's Chief Executive pointed to the possibility of thunderclouds formation in the highlands of Taif. Their impact could extend to the Holy Sites from Dhu'al-Hijjah 8-13, bringing strong downwinds that raise dust and dirt.
The prolonged exposure to high temperatures could lead to heat exhaustion, which may develop in some conditions to heatstroke. Many pilgrims experience heat exhaustion or heatstroke due to exposure to the sun for a long period of time.
To avoid heatstroke, pilgrims are advised to avoid exposure to direct sunlight, apply sunscreen, drink plenty of fluids, and use light-colored umbrellas.
Short link :
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
a day ago
- Arab News
Saudi Arabia reports five heat exhaustion cases among pilgrims, urges precautions amid soaring temperatures
MAKKAH: As temperatures soared at the holy sites, Saudi Arabia confirmed five cases of heat exhaustion among the more than one million pilgrims who have arrived to perform Hajj rituals. All those affected received immediate medical attention and are currently in a stable condition, according to the ministry of health, which added that health teams were on high alert to respond swiftly to similar cases as part of the Kingdom's commitment to safeguarding the health and safety of pilgrims. The country's National Center for Meteorology has forecast hot to extremely hot weather conditions at the holy sites during this year's Hajj season. According to the center, maximum temperatures are expected to range between 40°C and 47°C, while minimum temperatures will vary between 27°C and 32°C. Humidity levels are projected to fluctuate between 15 percent and 60 percent. In a post on its X account, the ministry urged pilgrims to stay hydrated, avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, and follow official health guidelines, such as using shaded walkways, wearing appropriate protective gear, and seeking help at the first signs of fatigue. 'If not treated promptly, heat exhaustion can escalate to heat stroke within 10-15 minutes — a life-threatening medical emergency,' the post stated. The ministry also advised pilgrims who experience heat exhaustion symptoms to begin immediate cooling measures, such as washing their hands, faces and necks with cold water and moving to a cooler area, as well as drinking plenty of cold water to rehydrate. In its post, the ministry identified headache, excessive sweating, nausea, dizziness, and severe thirst as key clinical symptoms of heat exhaustion. Multilingual awareness campaigns have been launched, and field preparedness has been reinforced, particularly in response to seasonal heat risks. The ministry had announced the health sector's readiness to receive pilgrims, revealing a 60 percent increase in bed capacity compared with last year. Fahad Al-Jalajel, the minister of health, recently confirmed the deployment of over 50,000 medical and technical personnel to serve pilgrims and emphasized the stability of the health situation, with no reported outbreaks or epidemics, according to the Saudi Press Agency. 'Health efforts began early in pilgrims' homelands by analyzing international health risks and issuing clear health requirements, including vaccinations against yellow fever, meningitis, polio, COVID-19, and influenza,' SPA reported, citing Al-Jalajel. The minister underscored the role of the health certificate as the first line of defense during the Hajj season, noting that the Kingdom's health system launched its services with the arrival of the first Makkah Route Initiative flight. As part of the Kingdom's comprehensive preparations, 14 land, air, and sea ports have been fully equipped, delivering more than 50,000 health services so far, including 140 surgical procedures, 65 cardiac catheterizations, and six open-heart surgeries, the minister said. To combat heatstroke risks, Al-Jalajel announced a series of measures in coordination with the Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites. These include planting more than 10,000 trees, installing 400 additional water coolers and misting fans, and expanding shaded pedestrian pathways to protect pilgrims from extreme heat. The ministry of health has also intensified awareness efforts through multilingual campaigns, stationing field teams, launching media programs, and organizing medical missions to ensure important health information reaches all pilgrims. Al-Jalajel further revealed the establishment of a new 200-bed emergency hospital in Mina, developed in collaboration with Kidana Development Co. In addition, three new field hospitals with more than 1,200 beds have been set up in partnership with the ministries of national guard, defense, and interior. These were inaugurated 'alongside 71 emergency points, 900 ambulances, 11 evacuation aircraft, and over 7,500 paramedics,' Al-Jalajel told SPA. The minister urged pilgrims to follow health guidelines and affirmed that the Kingdom's health system is operating at full capacity to ensure a safe and healthy Hajj season for all.
Leaders
2 days ago
- Leaders
Hajj 2025: Hot to Extremely Hot Weather Expected at Holy Sites
As Wednesday May 28, 2025 marked the first day of Dhu'al-Hijjah, the Hajj season for this year will take place during the first ten days of June 2025. In the light of this, the Saudi National Center of Meteorology (NCM) announced its weather forecast for the Hajj season. In a press conference, the NCM's Chief Executive, Ayman Ghulam, said that the expected weather conditions at the Holy Sites will be hot to extremely hot. According to Ghulam, the maximum temperatures in the Holy Sites during Hajj are forecast to range between 40 and 47 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, the minimum temperatures will range between 27 and 32 degree Celsius. Moreover, the humidity levels could reach up to 60%. The Holy Sites are likely to experience northerly to northwesterly winds at speeds ranging from 25 km/h to 35 km/h. These winds may stir up dust and reduce visibility, particularly in open areas and highways, he noted. Additionally, the NCM's Chief Executive pointed to the possibility of thunderclouds formation in the highlands of Taif. Their impact could extend to the Holy Sites from Dhu'al-Hijjah 8-13, bringing strong downwinds that raise dust and dirt. The prolonged exposure to high temperatures could lead to heat exhaustion, which may develop in some conditions to heatstroke. Many pilgrims experience heat exhaustion or heatstroke due to exposure to the sun for a long period of time. To avoid heatstroke, pilgrims are advised to avoid exposure to direct sunlight, apply sunscreen, drink plenty of fluids, and use light-colored umbrellas. Short link :
Saudi Gazette
3 days ago
- Saudi Gazette
NCM forecast: Hot to extremely hot weather expected at holy sites during Hajj
Saudi Gazette report MAKKAH — The National Center of Meteorology (NCM) announced that the expected weather conditions in the holy sites during this year's Hajj will be hot to extremely hot. Maximum temperatures are expected to range between 40 and 47 degrees Celsius, and minimum temperatures range between 27 and 32 degrees Celsius. The humidity levels are expected between 15 percent and 60 percent. The CEO of NCM Dr. Ayman Ghulam indicated that winds will be northerly to northwesterly at speeds ranging from 25 to 35 km/h, with dust-raising, which may lead to reduced horizontal visibility, especially in open areas and highways. He noted the possibility of thunderstorms forming in the highlands of Taif, extending their impact to the holy sites during the period from Dhul Hijjah 8 to 13, accompanied by active downwinds that stir up dust and dirt.
