RIYADH: The National Center of Meteorology (NCM) has issued a fresh advisory warning of moderate to heavy thunderstorms, flash floods, hail, and high-velocity winds across several regions of Saudi Arabia on Saturday, prompting emergency authorities to urge residents and visitors to exercise extreme caution.
According to the NCM statement, the current meteorological system is expected to trigger intense downpours capable of causing localized flash flooding and severe dust storms, reducing horizontal visibility to near-zero in affected territories. The warnings cover strategic regions including Makkah, Madinah, Hail, Qassim, and the Northern Borders, alongside northern districts of the Eastern Province, with similar conditions forecast for Jazan, Asir, and Al-Baha. Light to moderate rainfall is anticipated in Tabuk, Al-Jouf, and northern Riyadh, accompanied by dense fog formation in select pockets.
In a dedicated weather bulletin relayed by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) on Saturday, the NCM forecast heavy precipitation over the Madinah region, driven by strong downdrafts, hail, and active thunderstorms from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Authorities have urged residents, pilgrims, and visitors to strictly comply with safety protocols issued by civil defense personnel.
In response to the alert, the Saudi Red Crescent Authority (SRCA) in Madinah activated its comprehensive emergency response plan, deploying 70 fully equipped ambulance teams and specialized rescue vehicles across the region. SRCA Branch Director General Dr. Ahmed Al-Zahrani confirmed that basic and advanced medical teams, dispatch centres, and volunteer units positioned around the Prophet’s Mosque and the central area of Madinah are operating around the clock. The public has been advised to steer clear of waterlogged channels and avoid crossing active wadis, with emergency medical services reachable via the unified hotline 997.
The updated advisory follows Friday’s NCM projections indicating a new spell of instability spreading across coastal Makkah and central governorates. NCM spokesperson Hussein Al-Qahtani stated that meteorological tracking shows the system expanding and intensifying further on Monday and Tuesday, with moderate to heavy downpours scheduled for Jeddah and Rabigh on Saturday.
Al-Qahtani emphasized that operational monitoring units are on high alert, reiterating warnings against entering active watercourses or attempting to cross flowing streams in vehicles. Recent days have already recorded significant rainfall, with Al-Baha experiencing thunderstorm-driven wadi flows and Rafha in the Northern Borders region reporting hail and moderate showers.
The ongoing precipitation aligns with the final quarter of the year, historically marked as one of Saudi Arabia’s primary wet seasons. The NCM’s late-2026 climate outlook noted above-average rainfall across southwestern highlands such as Asir, alongside elevated seasonal temperatures.
While seasonal rains bolster agricultural reservoirs, rapid runoff through dry valley beds poses severe flash-flood risks. The General Directorate of Civil Defense has reiterated strict advisories against entering wadis, swimming in rain-fed pools, or traversing submerged roadways while the unsettled weather continues to pass over the Kingdom.
For more details: Navamalayalam.com