Snow blanketed several regions across Saudi Arabia on Wednesday and yesterday, transforming the desert-framed mountains into a striking winter wonderland as inclement weather made its presence felt.
Snow affected parts of northern Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, with cold weather and heavy rain hitting several cities and other parts of the kingdom.
Trojena, a mountain destination for hiking and skiing, was covered in snow and experienced some light rainfall.
Light to moderate rain was experienced in Bir Bin Hermas, Al Ayinah, Ammar, AlUla Governorate and Shaqra and its suburbs, while several other regions, including Riyadh, experienced moderate to heavy rainfall.
The Saudi capital experienced its downfalls from the early hours yesterday, with thick cloud cover remaining over the city throughout the day. All schools in Riyadh were switched to remote learning amid the continuing inclement weather which has prevailed since Monday.
The Qassim Region, including the city of Buraidah, experienced moderate to heavy rainfall while Tabuk Region experienced light to moderate rainfall yesterday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Parts of Hail Region also witnessed snowfall on Wednesday evening in areas surrounding the city of Hail, while light to moderate rainfall was reported across the region and several of its governorates.
The National Centre for Meteorology (NCM) anticipated more snow in the northern parts of the Riyadh Region and the governorates of Al Majmaah and Al Ghat, north of Riyadh, witnessed snowfall yesterday morning, which led to accumulations over high land and open areas, the SPA reported.
Hussein Al Qahtani, the NCM’s official spokesperson, explained that the weather conditions affecting the north of the Riyadh Region were the result of a cold mass of air advancing into the area, accompanied by rain-bearing clouds.
This contributed to temperatures dropping below zero Celsius in some locations, creating the conditions for snowfall during the early-morning hours.
According to the NCM, gusty winds are expected, and moderate to heavy rain and hail may fall in parts of the Eastern Region, Riyadh, and Qassim.
In addition, The UAE issued an advisory after it experienced rainfall and shifting weather conditions, with authorities reiterating the importance of staying alert and prioritising safety.
Authorities in Abu Dhabi and Dubai have urged the public to be vigilant as heavy rain, high wind and thunderstorms are expected to sweep across the Emirates over the next two days.
The warning comes after downpours and even hailstones swept into Ras Al Khaimah late on Wednesday.
Rain fell in Dubai between 1.30pm and 2pm yesterday, with further stormy conditions expected. Heavy rain was reported in The Greens and Al Barsha, with puddles forming on roads and residents reporting hazardous driving conditions.
The forecast is for a “main rainfall wave”, with the most hazardous conditions predicted after 5pm and into the night. Thunder and lightning is expected from 10pm onwards, according to the National Centre for Meteorology.
The Dubai International Airport also issued alerts for travellers ahead of expected heavy rains across the country. The airport advised travellers to regularly check flight status with airlines and to plan extra travel time to get to the airport for scheduled flights.
Crown Prince and Deputy Prime Minister of Dubai and Defence Minister Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, shared a video of lightning hitting Burj Khalifa yesterday, said The National. While the world’s tallest building is typically known for its visual shows, it’s also a lightning rod for the city during thunderstorms.
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