Saudi Arabia braces for travel chaos: Heavy rains predicted, Riyadh to Mecca alerts issued

Riyadh / Jeddah: The National Center of Meteorology in Saudi Arabia has predicted rainfall for most areas of the Kingdom during the upcoming mid-year holidays for schools. The forecast has raised urgent weather alerts and advisories among the residents and travellers.

According to the latest weather forecast by the NCM, there will be chances of phased rain, from light to moderate and heavy rains, coinciding with the break, that may affect some major regions, including Najran, Riyadh, Eastern Region, Al Jouf, Tabuk, Makkah, Asir, Jazan. The weather alerts that have been issued include yellow alerts for light rains, while orange alerts have been given for regions where heavy rains along with wind and low visibility are expected.

Saudi Arabia weather alerts: What it means for residents

Under the warning system:

• Yellow alerts suggest low to moderate rainfall that could result in slick roads and occasional localised flooding.
• Orange alerts, issued for several areas, mean moderate to heavy rain, with strong winds, thunderstorm activity and the possibility of hail and flash flooding, particularly in elevated or low-lying zones.
• In the Tabuk and Madinah regions, for example, rainfall is forecast throughout much of the day, while parts of the Eastern Province and Makkah region may see moderate rain and gusty conditions with visibility challenges on highways and intercity roads.

School holidays and precautions

The weather pattern occurs at a time when the country holds the mid-year holidays, a period when families often travel or plan outdoor activities. Thus, the warnings by the NCM come with the safety message of monitoring the official forecasts, avoiding travel when the rain is heavy and adhere to civil defence advisories.

Such instances of disruptions in the weather have already been affecting the lives of citizens in the Kingdom. In the Riyadh area, authorities recently had to move offline learning to the online mode due to the bad weather conditions.

Broader weather patterns in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Weather observers have noticed that it normally rains in Saudi Arabia and the Kingdom experiences dynamic weather phenomena in winters. Lately, it has been recording high levels of rain in western and northern parts, thereby disrupting traffic in some places due to flooding caused by the rain in those areas.

Experts recommend citizens from the affected areas in Jeddah, Riyadh as well as other urban centres, northern regions and highlands to
stay updated through official NCM accounts and civil defence alerts, especially as weather volatility increases during seasonal transitions.

Bottom line

Saudi Arabia is gearing up to experience a period of rainy and unstable weather that could impact most parts of this country when it enters the mid-year holiday period, due to moderate to heavy rain, wind and poor visibility in most governorates. Caution warnings have been issued, especially in flood areas and highways, due to the adjustments in holiday plans based on this weather situation.