The National Center for Meteorology in Saudi Arabia issued a cold wave accompanied by frost, starting in the early hours of Thursday morning. This report comes as part of the ongoing monitoring of weather conditions and atmospheric fluctuations experienced in the region during the winter season.
The center explained in its report that the weather phenomenon actually begins at one o'clock in the morning and continues until eight o'clock in the morning, as the areas covered by the warning are expected to witness a significant and sharp drop in temperatures, ranging from zero degrees Celsius to 3 degrees Celsius below zero, which creates the opportunity for frost formation and freezing of surface water in open areas.
Regions and cities affected by the cold wave
The yellow alert covered parts of 6 major administrative regions, and the affected cities and governorates were distributed as follows:
- Eastern Province: Hafr Al-Batin, and Qaryat Al-Ulya.
- Riyadh region: Thadiq, Huraymila, Rumah, Zulfi, Ghat, Majmaah, and Shaqra.
- Northern Border Region: Al-Uwaiqilah, Rafha, Tarif, and Arar.
- Al-Qassim region: Al-Asyah, Al-Thamiriya, Al-Shamasiya, Al-Ammar, Al-Mudhnib, Buraydah, Unayzah, and Uyun Al-Jawa.
- Hail region: Al-Shanan, Baqaa, and Hail city.
- Al-Jawf region: Dumat Al-Jandal and Sakaka.
climatic context and the impact of air masses
This cold wave is part of a normal climatic pattern in Saudi Arabia during the winter months, where the northern and central regions are typically affected by the advance of cold polar air masses from the north. This time of year is also characterized by the occasional dominance of Siberian high-pressure systems, resulting in clear night skies. This is a key factor that contributes to the rapid heat loss from the ground through radiation, causing a sharp drop in minimum temperatures and the formation of frost in the early morning hours.
Expected effects and the importance of the warning
This warning is of particular importance to several vital sectors, most notably:
- The agricultural sector: Frost poses a threat to winter crops in agricultural areas such as Qassim, Hail and Al-Jawf, which requires farmers to take preventive measures to protect their crops.
- Road safety: Frost may affect highways and open roads, reducing tire traction, so drivers are advised to be extremely careful in the early morning hours.
- Public health: The sharp drop in temperatures requires wearing heavy winter clothing, especially for children and the elderly, to avoid colds and seasonal illnesses associated with extreme cold.
The National Center of Meteorology calls on everyone to follow the updated weather reports through its official channels, and to adhere to the instructions of the concerned authorities to ensure public safety during the period of this wave's impact.
