Various regions of Saudi Arabia experienced a significant drop in temperatures on Tuesday, with Al-Qurayyat Governorate recording the lowest temperature in the Kingdom. According to data released by the National Center for Meteorology, temperatures in Al-Qurayyat plummeted to nearly 2 degrees Celsius, reflecting the severity of the cold wave currently affecting the northern regions.
List of the least hot cities in the Kingdom
The daily weather report showed variations in the minimum temperatures recorded in a number of cities and governorates of the Kingdom, with the ranking as follows:
- Al Qurayyat: 2 degrees Celsius.
- Tabuk: 3 degrees Celsius.
- Tarif: 3 degrees Celsius.
- Abha: 4 degrees Celsius.
- Rafha: 4 degrees Celsius.
- Arar: 4 degrees Celsius.
- Sakaka: 4 degrees Celsius.
- Hail: 4 degrees Celsius.
- Hafar Al-Batin: 4 degrees Celsius.
- Taif: 5 degrees Celsius.
- Riyadh: 6 degrees Celsius.
- Khamis Mushait: 6 degrees Celsius.
The geographical and climatic context of cold waves
The northern regions of the Kingdom, such as Qurayyat, Tarif, and Arar, are the primary gateway for cold air masses arriving from the Levant and Europe. These areas are characterized by their open desert terrain, which contributes to rapid heat loss during the night, leading to a sharp drop in temperatures that can sometimes fall below freezing and cause frost, especially during the peak of winter (the forty-day period known as Al-Murabba'aniyah and Al-Shabat).
On the other hand, cities such as Abha, Khamis Mushait and Taif are noted on the list, and this is due to the mountainous nature of these areas and their high altitude above sea level, which makes them record naturally low temperatures compared to coastal or low-lying areas, even if they are far from direct northern influences.
Weather and public safety alerts
This drop in temperatures coincides with ongoing warnings from the National Center of Meteorology regarding weather fluctuations, which may include surface wind activity that stirs up dust and sand, leading to reduced horizontal visibility in some areas, which calls for caution and vigilance on highways.
The relevant authorities, such as the Civil Defense, also call on citizens and residents during these cold weather to follow safety guidelines when using various heating methods, whether electric or based on coal and firewood, to ensure good ventilation and avoid suffocation or fire incidents, and to make sure to wear appropriate winter clothing, especially for children and the elderly.
