Severe thunderstorms trigger Red alerts across Saudi Arabia

Heavy rain, hail, and thunderstorms continue to batter Saudi Arabia with the National Center of Meteorology (NCM) issuing Red alerts across various regions.

The most severe conditions were reported in Jeddah where rainfall from 06:00 AST (03:00 UTC) to 15:00 AST (12:00 UTC) on January 6 caused flash floods, strong winds reaching 60 km/h (37 mph), poor visibility, and high waves over 2 m (6.6 feet). Similar alerts remain active in Makkah, Riyadh, and Al-Baha.

The NCM increased alerts for Jeddah on January 6, warning of torrential rains hailstorms, and thunderstorms. The warning indicates that the severe weather conditions will last until January 8.

Rainfall rates ranged between moderate and heavy with visibility severely reduced because of dust-laden winds.

The Crisis and Disaster Management Center in Makkah urged residents to avoid flood-prone areas, remain indoors, and exercise caution while driving.

Wind speeds varied between 20 to 60 km/h (12 to 37 mph) in the Red Sea causing wave heights to exceed 2 m (6.6 feet) in some areas.

Southeasterly to southerly winds were recorded at 15 to 35 km/h (9 to 22 mph) in the Arabian Gulf resulting in calmer wave heights of 0.5 to 1.5 m (1.6 to 5 feet).

Heavy rainfall affected several governorates in Makkah including Bahra, Al-Jumum, and Rabigh where torrents and hail were reported. Rainfall also impacted Al-Laith and Al-Khurma with moderate to heavy thunderstorms recorded.

The NCM issued alerts for the eastern region, Riyadh, and Qassim, by warning of severe weather from January 5 to 7. Regions such as Az Zulfi, Al Ghat, and Ad Duwadimi reported active winds, torrential rains, and hailstorms which created hazardous travel conditions on highways.

The Makkah and Madinah regions began experiencing rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms on January 4. Moderate snowfall was recorded in northern areas of the country with temperatures dropping sharply.

The Saudi Red Crescent Authority (SRCA) in Makkah declared full operational readiness.

The SRCA ensured the availability of immediate medical assistance with 1 420 staff members and 149 emergency vehicles including ambulances and air rescue units.

“The public is advised to follow official safety instructions and prioritize road safety during heavy rainfall,” stated the SRCA.

Municipal authorities reinforced flood defenses and deployed rapid-response teams to mitigate the impact of flash floods and hailstorms. Beachgoers were urged to avoid coastal areas while motorists were cautioned against driving through waterlogged streets.

The General Directorate of Civil Defense reiterated the importance of staying indoors during thunderstorms, avoiding valleys and low-lying flood zones, and refraining from swimming in potentially hazardous conditions.

The Civil Defense actively shared updates on social media providing real-time weather alerts and preventive guidelines to ensure public safety.

References:

¹ Automated Early Warning System – NCM – Accessed on January 6, 2025

² Video: Heavy rains, thunderstorms and hail hit Saudi Arabia; red alert issued – GULF NEWS – January 6, 2025

³ Saudi Red Crescent on high alert as heavy rains hit Makkah – The Siasat Daily – January 6, 2025

Rishika Yadav

Rishika holds a Master’s in International Studies from Stella Maris College, Chennai, India, where she earned a gold medal, and an MCA from the University of Mysore, Karnataka, India. Previously, she served as a Research Assistant at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, India. During her tenure, she contributed as a Junior Writer for Europe Monitor on the Global Politics website and as an Assistant Editor for The World This Week. Her work has also been published in The Hindu newspaper, showing her expertise in global affairs. Rishika is also a recipient of the Women Empowerment Award at the district level in Haryana, India, in 2022.

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