Northern regions of Saudi Arabia experienced a sharp drop in temperatures at dawn on Thursday, with the city of Sakaka recording the lowest temperature in the Kingdom, which reached 5 degrees Celsius below zero, in a clear indication of the peak of the winter season and the impact of the cold air masses that dominate the atmosphere of the region.
List of the coldest cities today
According to data issued by the National Center for Meteorology, the northern regions topped the climate scene by recording record temperatures below zero degrees Celsius, and the ranking of the coldest cities was as follows:
- Sakaka: 5 degrees Celsius below zero.
- Arar: 4 degrees Celsius below zero.
- Hail: 3 degrees Celsius below zero.
- Tabuk and Al Qurayyat: Two degrees Celsius below zero.
- Tarif: One degree Celsius below zero.
Weather details and forecasts
The National Center for Meteorology, in its daily weather report, indicated that the Kingdom is experiencing cold to very cold weather, particularly in parts of Tabuk, Al-Jawf, the Northern Borders, Hail, Al-Qassim, and Riyadh regions, extending to the Eastern Province. The center warned of frost formation, which could affect crops and traffic during the early morning hours.
Regarding wind movement, the report indicated surface wind activity that stirs up dust and sand, leading to a decrease in horizontal visibility in the southern parts of the Riyadh and Eastern regions, and its impact extends to include the Najran region and parts of Makkah, Madinah and Tabuk.
Climate context and the impact of the cold wave
This cold wave is part of the typical climatic patterns of northern Arabia during winter, as these regions are influenced by Siberian high-pressure systems and polar air masses from the north. Northern regions such as Al-Jawf and the Northern Borders are considered the "gateway to the cold" for the Kingdom due to their geographical location and open desert terrain, which facilitates rapid heat loss during the night.
The Meteorology Department also noted the possibility of scattered rain and partly cloudy skies over the highlands of Asir, Jazan, Al-Baha, extending to parts of Makkah, Riyadh and the Eastern Province, with a high probability of dense fog during the night and early morning hours, which calls for caution and vigilance by drivers on highways.
