Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — The National Center for Meteorology (NCM) has forecast a high chance of snowfall in the Qassim region and northern parts of Riyadh on Thursday, as an intense weather system continues to affect large parts of the Kingdom.

The forecast follows three consecutive days during which Qassim was placed under a red alert for heavy rainfall and flood risks.

The NCM said it is closely monitoring atmospheric conditions, noting that snowfall is expected to begin on Wednesday over the highlands of Tabuk and Hail, where temperatures are forecast to drop below zero degrees Celsius.

Authorities urged the public to exercise extreme caution during the severe weather.

NCM spokesperson Hussein Al-Qahtani said the rainfall experienced in Riyadh on Monday was predominantly light and continuous (drizzle), with some neighborhoods recording moderate to heavy showers accompanied by hail during the evening hours.

He added that the highest rainfall recorded in the capital reached 12 mm, while the highest total across the Riyadh region was 24 mm at King Khalid Royal Reserve, according to NCM monitoring stations.

Al-Qahtani stressed that videos circulating on social media claiming flooding in some areas were inaccurate and did not reflect the actual weather conditions, urging the public to rely on official sources for verified information.

At the same time, Al-Qahtani confirmed that the NCM is tracking the likelihood of snowfall starting Wednesday over the elevated areas of Tabuk and Hail, alongside a sharp drop in temperatures to below freezing.

In its daily weather report, the NCM forecast moderate to heavy thunderstorms across parts of Riyadh, the Eastern Province, and the Northern Borders, which could lead to flash flooding.

These conditions are expected to be accompanied by hail and strong, gusty winds.

Moderate rainfall is also expected over parts of Tabuk, Al-Jouf, Hail, and Qassim, with a chance of fog formation in some areas.

The NCM indicated the possibility of light snowfall and frost over parts of the highlands of Tabuk and Hail, as well as the northeastern highlands of the Madinah region.

Weather conditions are expected to range from partly cloudy to cloudy, with rain-bearing thunderclouds over the western and southwestern regions of the Kingdom.

Over the Red Sea, surface winds will be northwesterly to northerly at speeds of 25–50 km/h over the northern and central parts, and 12–32 km/h over the southern part, potentially exceeding 60 km/h during thunderstorms.

Wave heights are expected to range between 1.5 and 2.5 meters in the north and center, and up to 2.5 meters in the south during stormy conditions, with sea conditions ranging from moderate to rough.

In the Arabian Gulf, surface winds will be westerly to southwesterly at speeds of 15–40 km/h, potentially exceeding 60 km/h with thunderstorm activity.

Wave heights are forecast between 0.5 and 1.5 meters, rising above 2.5 meters during storms, with sea conditions ranging from slight to rough.