Severe Weather Warning Issued for Most Parts of Saudi Arabia
Saudi authorities have issued a warning to residents, stating that most parts of the Kingdom will experience severe weather conditions until Friday.
The National Center of Meteorology has forecast moderate-to-heavy rain in regions such as Madinah, Makkah, Jeddah, Baha, and Najran, with high winds, hail, and thunderstorms expected.
The General Directorate of Civil Defense in Saudi Arabia has also issued severe weather warnings along with safety instructions in preparation for heavy rainfall in the coming days.
According to the Civil Defense, moderate-to-torrential thundershowers accompanied by strong winds are expected in most parts of the Kingdom until Friday.
Regions that will be affected include Asir, Baha, Makkah, Madinah, Jazan, Qassim, Jouf, Hail, Tabuk, Northern Borders, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province.
Residents are urged to take precautions, stay indoors during stormy weather, and follow the instructions provided by the General Directorate of Civil Defense.
In response to the weather warnings, schools in Jeddah, Makkah, and Madinah have transitioned to online classes through the Madrasati remote-learning platform. Some universities, such as King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah and Umm Al Qura University in Makkah, have closed and postponed exams until further notice.
Additionally, Taibah University in Madinah and the Saudi Electronic University branch in Jeddah have suspended in-person classes and switched to remote learning.
Jeddah Municipality has implemented a field plan to address the weather conditions and is advising residents to exercise caution and avoid flooded areas.
Officials, such as Bandar bin Saleh Al-Hadiya from the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture branch in the Northern Border region, are inspecting dam safety in preparation for the rainy conditions.
Riyadh region experienced a heavy sandstorm with high winds on Sunday night, leading to the city being covered in dust. The NCM has issued a red alert for dust storms in parts of the Riyadh region, including the capital and governorates like Al-Aflaj, Al-Sulail, and Wadi Al-Dawasir.