The National Center for Meteorology announced that the city of Tarif, located in the Northern Borders , topped the list of Saudi cities with the lowest temperatures, setting a new record for 2025, with temperatures dropping to -5°C. This announcement was included in the center's statistical report, which monitors the most prominent weather and climate phenomena experienced in the Kingdom.
Tarif... the gateway to the harsh winter in the Kingdom
The province of Tarif is historically known as one of the coldest places in the Arabian Peninsula during winter. This is due to its geographical location in the far north of the Kingdom and its high altitude, which makes it vulnerable to polar air masses coming from Siberia and Eastern Europe. This sharp drop to below zero degrees Celsius is not a passing event, but rather part of the region's continental climate, which usually requires special preparations by the relevant authorities and residents to deal with frost and freezing water.
The importance and impact of climate monitoring
The National Center of Meteorology explained that the process of documenting and analyzing this extreme weather data is not only for archiving purposes, but also plays a pivotal role in raising climate awareness and supporting strategic planning. The importance of this data is evident in several aspects:
- Agricultural sector: Forecasting frost waves helps farmers take preventive measures to protect sensitive crops from damage.
- Public safety: Early warnings contribute to raising the readiness of the Civil Defense and the health sector to deal with cases of heat stress and cold and road accidents resulting from fog or slips.
- Energy sector: Monitoring minimum temperatures helps in estimating expected energy loads for heating purposes in northern regions.
Temperature details in Saudi cities
Meanwhile, coinciding with the record low in Tarif, other regions experienced significant temperature drops on Tuesday, January 6th. Al-Qurayyat and Rafha recorded only 2 degrees Celsius, while Hafr Al-Batin recorded 3 degrees Celsius. Minimum temperatures in Arar, Sakaka, and Tarif (during the daytime and late night hours) hovered around 4 degrees Celsius, while the capital, Riyadh, and the cities of Abha, Buraidah, and Hail remained stable at 5 degrees Celsius, indicating a widespread cold wave affecting most regions of the Kingdom.
Weather forecast: Rain and strong winds
Regarding the expected weather conditions, the Meteorology Department confirmed that there is still a chance of light rain in parts of the Madinah region. The department also warned of the continued impact of active winds stirring up dust and sand, which may reduce horizontal visibility in parts of Madinah and extend to the eastern parts of the Makkah, Al-Baha, and Asir regions, urging motorists on highways to exercise caution.
