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The National Center for Meteorology activated several red alerts for heavy rain and associated hazards Wednesday, according to its online early warning system. The alerts cover districts in the Makkah region including Madrakah, Al-Kamil and Al-Ardiyat as well as locations in Jazan such as Ad-Darb and Jazan city plus sections of Al-Baha. These warnings highlight risks of strong winds, hail, near-zero visibility, thunderstorms and flash floods that could develop rapidly in the affected areas. The center advised residents to monitor updates and avoid hazardous zones during the peak activity period that extends into the evening hours.
Moderate to heavy thunderstorms capable of producing flash floods remain forecast across parts of Jazan, Asir, Al-Baha, Makkah, Madinah, Hail, Tabuk, Al-Jouf and the Northern Borders, NCM assessments show. Light to moderate rainfall is expected in southern districts of Riyadh and the Eastern Province in addition to parts of Najran, the meteorology center reported. Fog formation is possible during nighttime and early morning hours along coastal stretches of Tabuk, Madinah, Makkah and the Eastern Province according to the same forecast. The National Center for Meteorology noted that active winds could stir dust and sand in many of these areas reducing visibility further.
The National Center for Meteorology recorded 16 active red alerts across the kingdom as of Wednesday morning on its public dashboard. Recent measurements from the center showed rainfall reaching 17.4 millimeters in Makkah’s Al-Shara’i district over a 24-hour span earlier in October while other sites in Asir and Tabuk logged between 10 and 15 millimeters during similar periods. These accumulations have contributed to the decision to maintain elevated warnings as the weather system persists. The center continues to track the progression of thunderstorm clusters moving through the southwestern provinces.
Civil defense officials have reinforced the meteorology center’s alerts by urging the public to steer clear of valleys, low-lying roads and areas prone to sudden water runoff. The General Directorate of Civil Defense has responded to multiple incidents linked to heavy rain this season and maintains operational readiness for potential flooding events. Coordination between the two agencies has increased during the current weather pattern that began intensifying in early October according to joint statements.
Temperatures are forecast to peak at 41 degrees Celsius in Dammam with Makkah and Madinah both expected to reach 40 degrees, NCM temperature projections indicate. This combination of heat and atmospheric moisture has fueled the instability leading to repeated thunderstorm development across the western and southern regions. The National Center for Meteorology plans to issue updated bulletins as the system evolves over the coming days to provide the most current risk information to residents and authorities.
The National Center for Meteorology has issued repeated red and orange alerts throughout the month for similar weather phenomena with varying intensity across seven or more regions at times. Data from the center shows that such events have produced localized flooding in urban centers and mountainous terrain prompting precautionary measures from local municipalities. Officials continue to monitor rainfall rates that can exceed 10 millimeters per hour in core impact zones during peak thunderstorm activity.
