Severe flash floods hit Medina, Saudi Arabia

Severe flash floods swept through parts of the city of Medina in Saudi Arabia on the night of Wednesday, August 21, 2024. Footage shared on social media showed intense floodwaters engulfing vehicles and forcing people to abandon their cars in an effort to reach safety.

According to local media reports, the city received a year’s worth of rain in just one day, causing severe flash floods.

Visuals shared on social media showed large amounts of floodwaters that swept away multiple vehicles.

People were seen escaping their vehicles stuck in the floodwaters with the help of others in the area.

Some users on social media expressed concerns about the possibility of cloud seeding being the cause of the flooding in the desert region.

بحمد الله ،،
عملية إنقاذ ناجحة لمواطنين داهمتهم السيول غرب المدينة المنورة pic.twitter.com/kjdFOIQC0i

— طقس العرب – السعودية (@ArabiaWeatherSA) August 21, 2024

Flash Flood Hits Medina, Saudi Arabia .
A sudden and intense flash #Flood .A vehicle was swept away by the powerful waters

#مكة_المكرمة #المدينة_المنورة
Stay informed.. pic.twitter.com/hX5pC295mF

— Weather monitor (@Weathermonitors) August 21, 2024

Medina is the second holiest city in Islam after Mecca and is located in the western part of the country. It’s known for being the site of the Prophet Muhammad’s mosque, Al-Masjid an-Nabawi, and his burial place.

Medina experiences a desert climate, with average annual rainfall ranging from 60 to 100 mm (2.4 to 4 inches). Most of the rainfall occurs during the winter months, with December, January, and February typically being the wettest periods. This low level of precipitation is characteristic of the arid regions in Saudi Arabia.