Saudi Arabia experienced a noticeable temperature contrast on Monday, December 29th, with the city of Sakaka in the Al-Jawf region recording the lowest temperature, a significant drop of only 3 degrees Celsius. According to official data from the National Center for Meteorology, this decrease signals the arrival of harsh winter weather in the northern regions of the Kingdom.
Temperature details in the cities of the Kingdom
The National Center for Meteorology's report indicated that the cold wave was not limited to Sakaka, but encompassed large parts of northern and central Saudi Arabia. The ranking of the coldest cities was as follows:
- Sakaka: 3 degrees Celsius (the lowest temperature).
- Tabuk: 4 degrees Celsius.
- Hail: 5 degrees Celsius.
- Al-Qassim: 6 degrees Celsius.
Other cities such as Tarif, Taif, Rafha, Khamis Mushait, Dawadmi and Abha also recorded similar temperatures of 7 degrees Celsius, reflecting the comprehensive nature of the weather conditions in the Kingdom’s highlands and interior regions.
The climatic and geographical context of the cold wave
The northern regions of Saudi Arabia, specifically Al-Jawf, the Northern Borders, and Tabuk, are the primary gateway for cold air masses arriving from the north and the Arctic via the Mediterranean Sea. Historically, these areas experience sharp drops in temperature at this time of year (late December and January), sometimes falling below freezing, leading to frost formation.
This weather condition is of particular importance to the region, as the agricultural sector in Al-Jawf - famous for olive cultivation - depends on the hours of winter cold to enhance the quality of crops, but the extreme drop may require special precautions to protect sensitive crops.
Accompanying weather phenomena: wind and dust
The weather report didn't just focus on temperatures; it also warned of significant weather phenomena accompanying this drop. The center indicated that strong winds could stir up dust and sand, causing near-zero or reduced horizontal visibility, especially on highways and in open areas.
- Tabuk region.
- Al-Jawf region.
- Northern Border Region.
The report also did not rule out scattered light rain in parts of those areas, which may contribute to cooling the atmosphere and partially settling dust in some locations.
Fog and traffic safety warnings
In contrast, the western and southwestern regions are experiencing a different phenomenon: the formation of dense fog. Affected areas include parts of Medina, Mecca, Al-Baha, Asir, and Jazan. This phenomenon is considered one of the most dangerous factors affecting road safety during the early morning and late night hours.
The relevant authorities are calling on drivers and users of the highways linking these governorates to exercise extreme caution, use warning signals, and maintain safe distances to avoid accidents resulting from lack of visibility, in line with the instructions of the Civil Defense and Traffic in such volatile weather conditions.
