On Saturday, November 7, the National Center for Meteorology (NCM) in Saudi Arabia issued a comprehensive forecast warning of moderate to heavy thunderstorms likely to spawn flash floods, hail, and high winds across a broad swath of the country. The agency noted that the storms could produce dust‑stirring gusts in the Makkah, Madinah, Hail, Qassim, Northern Borders, Eastern, Jazan, Aseer, and Al‑Baha regions.
In addition to the severe weather, the forecast called for light to moderate rain sweeping through parts of Tabuk, Al‑Jouf, and Riyadh. Fog was also anticipated in those regions, potentially affecting visibility in transportation and communications.
The NCM’s detailed wind report highlighted differing gust patterns along Saudi’s maritime borders. Over the Red Sea, winds will trend from northwesterly to westerly at 15–38 km/h in the northern sector, southerly to southeasterly at 10–35 km/h in the central sector, and southeasterly to southerly at 20–40 km/h in the southern sector.
Across the Arabian Gulf, the winds are expected to intensify from 15–40 km/h in the northern part, moving southeasterly to southerly, while the southern part will experience easterly to southeasterly winds at 10–32 km/h.
The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) relayed the NCM’s bulletins at 06:38 local time (03:38 GMT), emphasizing that the combination of rain, hail, and wind could lead to the sudden formation of flash floods, especially in low‑lying areas and river valleys throughout the affected provinces.
Officials across the country are urged to monitor official updates through the SPA and local media, as well as to prepare for potential road closures and water‑level warnings in flood‑prone zones. Residents are advised to stay indoors during the heaviest periods, fortify windows against hail, and avoid crossing flooded areas.
Local authorities in Makkah and Madinah have already opened emergency response teams, whereas the Al‑Baha region is coordinating with hydrological agencies to monitor river gauges. The Eastern Province’s ports have been cautioned to maintain heightened vigilance against high‑wind impacts on marine operations.
The NCM’s forecast states that the highest threat is concentrated in the midday period, with peak rainfall expected around 13:00 local time. Forecasts indicate that the dust and debris may reduce visibility to less than 500 meters in certain topographically challenging areas.
As the forecast calls for a complex blend of temperature, humidity, and precipitation patterns, climatologists note that this Thursday is part of a broader seasonal shift that brings increased precipitation to the Arabian Peninsula, a trend that has raised concerns among settlement planners and water resource managers.
The release of the forecast underscores Saudi Arabia’s growing emphasis on early warning systems to mitigate the impacts of extreme weather events.
