Torrential storms swept across much of Saudi Arabia between April 11 and April 13, 2026, flooding roads, disrupting traffic, and forcing schools and universities to shift to remote learning in multiple regions.
A rare severe convective setup is forecast to develop across the Gulf region, including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and eastern Saudi Arabia, on March 26–27, 2026, as a deep low-pressure system and strong upper-level trough interact with high instability and wind shear. The environment may support organized thunderstorms capable of producing tornadoes, alongside heavy rainfall, hail, and damaging winds.
A large-scale storm system is forecast to bring heavy to extremely heavy rainfall across parts of the Middle East, including Iraq, Iran, and the Gulf states, between March 25 and 31, 2026, raising flood risk in urban and desert regions. Authorities in the United Arab Emirates have issued warnings for unstable conditions with rain, strong winds, and reduced visibility, while flooding has already caused fatalities in Oman. Parts of the region might see a year’s worth of rain or more through the course of the event.
A rare widespread snowfall event affected northern Saudi Arabia in December 2025, transforming desert landscapes and mountain ranges across Tabuk and Hail into snow-covered terrain. The snowfall occurred as a sharp cold air intrusion lowered temperatures below freezing at higher elevations, with snow settling near 2 600 m (8 530 feet) and surface temperatures reported near −4°C (25°F), according to regional media reports. Such widespread snowfall over desert areas is considered exceptionally uncommon for the region.
Large sandstorms swept across multiple provinces across Saudi Arabia, with parts of Riyadh and Al Qassim experiencing near-zero visibility through Sunday and Monday, May 4 and 5, 2025.
Heavy rainfall triggered flash flooding across Saudi Arabia on March 6, 2025, with Ha’il and Buraidah among the most affected areas.
A powerful tornado struck the Rabigh Governorate along Saudi Arabia’s coast on January 6, 2025, marking the strongest ever recorded in the region. The event occurred as severe weather warnings were issued for heavy rains, hail, and high waves across the Makkah region including Jeddah.
Red alerts for heavy rainfall, hail, thunderstorms, and strong winds affecting multiple regions have been issued by NCM in Saudi Arabia on Monday, January 6, 2025. The severe weather conditions are expected to continue until January 10.
Extreme hailstorms and heavy rain have transformed parts of Saudi Arabia’s desert landscape into a winter-like scene, with snow-like hail accumulation primarily affecting regions such as Al-Jawf, the Northern Borders, Riyadh, and Mecca.
Heavy rainfall since October 27, 2024, has led to severe flooding across Saudi Arabia, with Mecca among the worst affected areas. Streets and pathways in the city, including the Grand Mosque, are heavily flooded, causing significant disruption for residents, pilgrims, and visitors.
