Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — Northern cities of the Kingdom experienced a sharp drop in temperatures on Wednesday, marking the coldest conditions recorded so far this winter, according to the National Center for Meteorology (NCM).

NCM spokesperson Hussain Al-Qahtani said Turaif recorded the lowest temperature at minus 3 degrees Celsius, followed by Qurayyat at minus 2 degrees.

He also shared footage on his official X account showing frost accumulating on rooftops in Rafha Governorate, underscoring the severity of the cold spell across the region.

Alongside the drop in temperatures in the north, the NCM issued orange-category weather warnings for parts of the Riyadh region and the Eastern Province.

In Riyadh, Al-Aflaj, Al-Saleel and Wadi Al-Dawasir are expected to experience dusty conditions from 5 a.m. Wednesday until 2 a.m. Thursday.

In the Eastern Province, Al-Adid is forecast to be affected by orange-category conditions from 9 a.m. Wednesday until 2 a.m. Thursday.

Similar conditions are expected in Al-Jubail, Al-Khobar, Al-Khafji, Dammam, Al-Qatif and Ras Tanura from 11 p.m. Tuesday until 2 a.m. Thursday, while Al-Ahsa and Buqayq are expected to be affected from 1 a.m. Wednesday until 2 a.m. Thursday.

The orange-category warnings indicate severe weather conditions, including strong winds, heavy rain, hail, extreme temperatures and potential flooding.

The developments follow an earlier NCM alert warning that moderate to heavy rainfall is expected in several regions of the Kingdom starting Friday and continuing through Sunday.

The forecast includes the possibility of downburst winds reaching speeds of 60 kilometers per hour or more, hail, high waves and flash floods.