Heavy rains, thunderstorms expected across Saudi

Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Meteorology and Environment Protection has said thunderstorms, heavy rains and active winds will continue across most of the country on Sunday.

The weather warning covers Jazan, Asir, Makkah, Madinah, Hail, Qassim, Sharqiyah and Riyadh with low temperatures also expected in the north of the kingdom.

Surface winds ranging from 15-40kph are expected in the Red Sea with a wave height of one to two metres. In the Arabian Gulf, surface winds will range from 18-40kph with wave height of 2m.

The warnings came after 49 people were rescued in Tabuk on Thursday after being stranded in valleys by flooding.

In an earlier update, vice president of meteorology Dr Ayman Ghulam said preliminary indications were for medium and heavy rains in Makkah, Madinah, Hail, Qassim and the southwestern highlands in the middle of this week.

He also warned not to rule out flooding in Makkah, Madinah, Hail, Qassim and areas west of Riyadh.

The authority issued similar rain and thunder warnings for Taif on Friday and other parts of the kingdom last week including Jazan and Asir (including the coastal parts) Najran, Baha, and Madinah.

Read: Warnings of heavy rain, thunderstorms issued across Saudi

The governor of Al Baha Region Prince Hossam bin Saud bin Abdulaziz warned members of the public to take precautions on Friday due to heavy rains and flooding in some areas.